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A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH, 



®tl)er Poems. 



BY A GENTLEMAN OF NATURE 



— — " For honest men 

Are the gentlemen ofJNTatare." 



BOSTON : 

PUBLISHED BY J. V. PIERCE. 

No. 32 CORNHILL. 

1844. 



<r 






TO THE READER. 



The following Poems, with a few exceptions, were composed 
early this sprino-, to divert my mind from the low associations 
of Southern life ; and to banish that insupportable prurience of 
an unsophisticated heart — caused by the absence of female 
society. Having burned a volume a few years since, 1 tried to 
recall them, but in vain, with the exception of a few pieces. 1 
commenced a Poem on " Sensibility," and after writmg some 
sixty stanzas felt more sensitive and melancholy than ever. 1 
decided on taking A Walk about Vicksburgh ; —to snaile, frown, 
or laugh at the folhes, peccancies, or pecuharities of this truly 
unique and extraordinary place! I had no intention of being 
satirical, but humorous; and having '' suffered some, and felt 
more my humor changed to satire, and occasionally to ridicule 
Beheving to hold up certain pretenders, and hypocrites to nierited 
contempt —to portray the inconsistencies of certain professing 
Christians, — the meaness and wickedness of some gentlemen of 
honor, — the frivolity, emptiness, and pride of a portion of the 
ladies • would be an amusing and profitable task, thinking 1 could 
do so without offence to the virtuous class. To be brief m the 
text I have dwelt principally on the dark side. And as my 
perception is keen, my feelings sensitive, and commg from a por- 
tion of our common country, which is twenty years in advance of 
the far south, in morals and prosperity — I may seem high 
colored But those who know me, know that malice or revenge 
does not dwell in my bosom. And if in a few instances, 1 say 
" Thou art the ma^i? " —it is to hold up the action to censure. 
For save one exception, I have been treated by men with respect 
This Poem was composed in a few days, while at work ; and 
was not then intended for publication, save some fifty stanzas. 
But learning a volume of poems, from ^n obscure individual 
would not pay the expense of publishing, and having committed 
myself to a friend South, that I would publish something, and 



rusticating for health; I give this small volume to the public, 
" v^'ith all their imperfections on their head." I will be con- 
sidered ungallant, if not indecorous 1 But truth is sometimes 
the greatest libel. A distinguished preacher was looked upon as 
a monster, for telling a "lady" she was on the road to hell. 
And although the idea is entertained south, that a lady like the 
king, cannot err : I have thought different, and expressed my- 
self accordingly. The opinions, customs, and fashions, that are 
prevalent in many cities, are very arbitrary, — I merely express 
my dissent. If I am harsh, it is more in appearance than in 
intent. If the " galled jade should wince," it will not be by 
the severity, but truth of my strictures ! And although the idea 
of a "working man" assailing the cherished customs of the 
"chivalry" may be an unpardonable offence, — I shall think 
myself a man for " a' that." And I admit that my ideas of 
Ladies, are the antipodes of theirs. And have the foolish notion 
that man is quite as exalted a being as woman ! I despise cant, 
and affectation, and mock-modesty, even in poetry ; and if any 
muse is simple and severe, she is also ingenuous : — and claims 
the right to be heard, in a land where no mercenary dedication 
to a titled nabob, or " heridatary peer of the realms " is neces- 
sary to install you in the affections of your countrymen, — but 
where genius shall shine brighter from its former obscurity ; 
and your fame will be commensurate with mental and moral 
qualities ; the splendor of your genius ; the omnipotence of 
virtue; the "aristocracy of thought; and the monarchy of- 
Mind ! " Yet I make small pretensions to wit, or genius. But 
knowing there are a few retiring and sensitive beings, who would 
prefer the simple and heartfelt strains of a child of nature, to the 
more learned and pedantic muse of the scholar ; I add a few 
short pieces, the product of " hours of bhss." And if there is 
one stanza that will be treasured in one warm heart, and repeated 
in her cherub lips with rapture, it will be the source to me of 
more joy, than, poor as I am, to possess the wealth of Astor. 
Call this enthusiasm — ye who think gold is the source of all 
pleasure? I had intended to have added copious notes, but find- 
ing I would be voluminous, I stopped short. Of criticism, I am 
entirely indifferent, and care not for malice — having "counted 
the cost " of giving this longest Poem publicity. 

Edwin A. 



CONTENTS 



Page. 

a walk about vicksburgh .,'■.... 9 

MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

To .......... 110 

The Shipwrecked Maid . . . . . . , . 113 

The Unknown 114 

Stanzas . , 117 

Sonnet to the Sun 118 

Home .119 

Sonnet to Sleep 120 

Oil being disappointed in Marriage ..... 121 
To the Memory of Mrs. Charlotte White Cansal . . .121 

My own Dear Love 124 

The Indian Chiefs Lament 126 

The Sisters — from Real Life 128 

Affection's Kiss — To . . . . . .133 

Beauteous Ellen . ; . 134 

Sonnet on the Sabbath 139 

The Poet to his future Wife 139 

To Mary 143 

To Miss C. W. S. . . 144 

To Mrs.'Miles Folkes, of Vicksburgh 145 

On being reproved for stealing a Kiss ...... 146 

The Exile's Lament . ' 147 

I've felt for Thee 148 

Maria 150 

Lines written in an Album 151 



b CONTENTS. 

Page. 

On an Infant sleeping ...... 153 

To , with a Present of the Religious Souvenir - - 155 

Farewell ---..... 155 

To Mary 158 

To a Young Woman, who wore her Dress extremely law on the 

Breast and Shoulders ..... 159 

What grieves my Soul - - - - - . 160 

On being disgusted with the Tobacco Spitters in the Methodist 

Church, Vicksburgh ..... I6I 

To Winter ........ IQS 

Genesee Falls ....... 157 

The Christian to his Soul ...... 168 

The Consumptive Mother ----- 169 

To Adam Barnes, of Charlottesville, Va. - - - - 175 

The Coquette - - - - - - - 179 

Lines on the Annunciation of the Decision of the Baltimore Con- 
vention, nominating Henry Clay for the Presidency - 180 
The Sailor's Home — New York - - - - 182 

To John C. Shales, Vicksburgh - - - - - 184 

Reflections of a Coquette — i.e. — an Old Maid - - 186 

A Parody ........ I88 

Ellen - - - - - . - - 190 

The Desolate One --..... 193 

The Suicide - - - - - - . - 194 

On the Death of William Henry Keely - - - - 195 

'' May our Land be Immanuel's Land '' - - - 197 

A Parting Hymn - - - - - - - 198 

The Dying Youth ...... 2OI 

To 203 

Extempore — on the Observation, that a Matron present retained 

her freshness and beauty to middle age ... 204 



'(^^ 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 



PREFACE TO " A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH/' 



This Poem was written for my own amusement, and a few copies are 
published solely for the amusement of my fellow mechanics south. And 
not feeling poetical while revising it — as a composition it may be beneath 
criticism. The wit, huimor, or satire, has only a local reference, and will 
not be seen save by a resident. And though I have lopp'd off some 
stanzas, it will be tame, dull and uninteresting, save to a few. My motives 
will be impungn'd, and character belied, by those who are offended at the 
freedom of my censures. But those who are like myself, — " Lookers on 
inVerona5" will see neither exaggeration nor falsehood in these lines. And 
though there are many excellent persons in Vicksburgh, those character- 
istics, and inconsistencies, which strike a stranger, are such as Ihave de- 
scribed them. The '' amazonian dame," is a slight exaggeration 5 and the 
''full sized doll," was from a friend's observation. If I have spoken 
lightly of Southern Methodists, it is from a knowledge of their conduct :— 
and a more miserable set of prentenders, and hypocrites, than a large por- 
tion of them are — never disgraced the Christian Church ! Yet there is a 
few even in " Sodom," who have not " defiled their garments." But who 
constituted you a judge 1 some will ask. I answer, by their actions you 
shall know them ! — By their loud professions coupled with the inefficiency 
of their piety, — by their treatment of their slaves, — by the utter contempt 
in which they are held by worldly men 3 and the disgrace they bring on 
religion. Of the Catholics, they have always been a curiosity to me — • 
and if I laugh at their superstitions, it is from the fact, that no other 
weapon but ridicule can reach them ! Being a novice in writing, — ac- 
quainted with no 07ie, of whom T could ask a single question 5 I have 
doubtless made many mistakes. If I should publish another small edition, 
1 shall substitute some stanzas on " Sensibility "for this Poem, which was 
only intended to be ephemeral. 



-^^^m^ 



A WALK AEOFT VICKSBURGH 



"Nothing extenuate; nor set down aught in malice." 

I. 

I LEAVE thee now, — a long and last adieu ! 

Enthroned 'mongst hills, in all thy stately pride ; 
For I have been with thee, a year or two, 

And can upon thy pleasantness decide ; 
The flowers of love, or pleasure that do strew 

Thy barren soil, are scattered far and wide : 
But ere I go, I'll take a walk around 
Upon thy far famed — if not classic ground. 

II. 

I'll take what we may call a retrospection. 

Or, as some Frenchmen say — "one grand review;'' 

For we may have for some things an affection. 
And wish our old acquaintance to renew ; 

Or we may be inclined to the rejection 

Of old things, and seek for something rare and new. 

Like a bad portrait it may our senses strike. 

Because our beau ideal — 'tis so unlike I 
2 



10 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

III. 

A novel view, I think, for Catherwood, 

Since his Jerusalem painting has been lost ; 

The panoramic scene is doubtless good ; 
I do not think it very much would cost, 

E'en if get burned the wondrous painting should ; 
A fine Pictorial it would make for Frost ! * 

This is the city of the hundred hills, 

Whose reality — not romance, my head fills. 

IV. 

And where for to begin, and where to end 
I do not know, I've hit upon no plan ; 

For good and ill in strange admixture blend, 
And I'm a thoughtful, desultory man ; 

An hour or two in travelling I may spend 
On this rectangled parallelogram ; — 

And as description is the muses' forte, 

W'll introduce her ladyship to court ! 

V. 

Here pause a moment — let us take a look 

Around, see what is, or what may be, the fashion ; 

View this old codger pouring o'er the book, 

Looks like a brother of great Andrew Jackson ! 

He is the Judge, not quite a John Home Tooke, 
Though his decisions are not often clashing. 

And this bluff* face he seems to be a lion. 

He is a son, I think, of — "Madame Guion." 

''The author of the Pictorial History of the United States. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 11 

VI. 

Him with the specks, thoughtful, sedate, and pale, 
Oh that's Chilton, quite a clever fellow ; 

The next is Tompkins — loves to tell a tale, 

When fashionable drinking makes him mellow ; 

The next is Hurst, so ruddy, and so hale, 

But hear him — mercy, how he tries to bellow ! 

And this huge man some six feet and a trifle, 

He tried to shoot some robbins with a rifle. 

VII. 

And who is this so studious in the van, 

A pouring o'er some old and musty deeds ? 

Who always acts, and looks, the gentleman, 

Without the usual strut and swell, — 'tis Smedes; 

He has a very lovely wife, and can 

Gain attention, for he is one that reads. 

He's getting new ideas, I am thinking. 

While many others spend their time in drinking. 

VIII. 

There sits his partner, though not very handsome ! 

And like big men sometimes, not very big 
In size, — I've ta'en him oft to be a grandson, 

Whom the old man had will'd his last red wig ! 
'Twas but the other day I saw him land some 

Girls from the boat, — with whom he danced the jig. 
The Lawyers here do drive quite a fair trade — 
Lawyers' and Doctors' fortunes soon are made. 



12 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH, 

IX. 

The law is here a most genteel profession ; 

A suit of broadcloth and a pair of specks 
Makes, on soft heads and hearts, a strong impression. 

For they do always manage the effects 
Of widows ; which since their lord's sad secession 

By death, has been exposed to great neglects : 
He becomes, by law, bone of her dear bone, 
But is, like " Albert," one behind the throne. 

X 

The Doctors are of course from " Old Virginny ! *' 
And they do very rare, or " never tire," 

Of getting at the heart of some dulcinea, 
Whose anatomy they doubtless much admire. 

If she is sickly, and the boys from Guinea 
Don't belong entirely to her sire ! — 

Perchance a rival waxes rather hot — 

Then the lucky man is always the best shot ! 

XI. 

This little fellow with the squirrel eye. 

Who loooks so wild, you'd think him disconcerted, 
As if his searching glance were destiny. 

And law, and evidence, had been perverted ! 
Reading his briefs in Church we did him spy, — 

Doubtless for fear that he would be converted ! 
He is, or rather was, district Attorney ; 
A countryman, perhaps, of J. G. Birney, 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 13 

XII. 

And this old colt, who is so full of feeling, — 
He says there is no other place like Erin 

For honesty, his client has been cotton stealing ; 
And now he does get his final hearing, 

Which is the fact unto them all revealing, 
That he must unto limbo soon be steering : 

How piteously he whines for a new trial ? 

The Judge denies him, and his blarney spoils all. 

XIII. 

And who is this, his hair is turning grey ? 

Oh, why, a Christian, — formerly a Squire ! 
He thinks full often of the law's delay — 

Especially in paying for horse hire. 
This bushy head, — Oh that is Mr. Ray, 

A man whose charges I don't much admire ! 
There's two or three a cutting at the table, 
To tell their names I surely am not able. 

XIV. 

But here's a man of genius who did fill, 
I won't say he deserv'd — a lofty station ; 

He's very fond of breaking of a Will, 
To keep the sons of Afric in this nation; 

And in the judgment day I think he will 
Be fiU'd with overwhelming consternation. 

Some say in speaking he does it up quite crisp ; 

I think he-'d go it better without the lisp ! 
2 * 



14 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

XV. 
Vicksburg is not what it's cracked up to be, 

He sometimes thinks, when he gets in a pet ; 
That there's too little aristocracy — 

The kind perhaps that go it on the " sweat ! " 
He says, that there are only two or three 

Gentlemen, that he has met with yet. 
A friend of mine these wondrous sayings heard 
Supposing he meant himself, and me, and Pinchard ! 

XVI. 

And there's a genius fresh from out a bog ! 

So busy cutting, I almost forgot ; 
The juice he squirts would salivate a hog, — 

A science fighter, though some say he's not. 
I saw him whip two men about a dog. 

And both John Bulls, but then he wax'd quite hot. 
He is here an indispensable reckoned. 
In most duels — either first, or second. 

XVII. 

The wind is fresh, we'll take another tack. 
Ho — the great dramatist, a cobbling laws ! 

Poor fellow, he looks hypocondriac — 
I judge him like a farrier, by his jaws ! 

" Seems rather wolfish," — hope he wont attack 
A gentleman, without an honest cause. 

He's been to Ithaca and ta'en a wife, 

With u.rorious interest, for his life. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH, 15 

XVIII. 

But see beliind the church, close to the fence, — 
Is this small house intended for the preacher ? 

Let's take a squint — gods, what a countenance ! 
He wears the specks, he surely is the teacher ; — 

No girl would parse him in the present tense ! 
Yet he without the golden bait might reach her : 

For 'tis in love, like ev'ry other trade. 

With luck, and impudence, your fortune's made. 

XIX. 

This stuff of courting — nonsense, by the by ; 

Trying for days and nights to make a breach 
In some hard heart ; to catch the coquet eye 

That smiles on all alike within her reach, 
I ne'er could understand, I knew not why, 

For I could never in my life beseech 
For favors, — and if I'm married e'er to be. 
Some kindred heart must fall in love with me ! 

XX. 

For this is leap year, I may have a chance — 
I've seen one buxom widow at me gazing ! 

For fear of failure, I shall not advance. 

Although my temperament may seem amazing ; 

Though modesty I know will not enhance 
My merit, — especially in a laisson : 

Still I am fondest of my beau ideal, — > 

Imagination makes it often real ! 



16 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

XXI. 

I've been where there was much of female grace. 
And always found that they would have their way ; 

Some fellow, with a bull-dog head and face, 
Has led the prettiest envied one astray ; 

The modest handsome gentleman gives place 
Unto the bold, who " smile for to betray ; " 

But to sum up this stanza, and be terse, 

In Vicksburgh things are nearly the reverse ! 

XXII. 
Here comes a female, I think needs assistance, * 

A Chinese waddle — shuffle — somewhat smirk — 
Her sense 's acute, she 's smelled us at a distance ; 

She turns her side upon us, a la Turk I 
A believer in the creed of non-resistance — 

Or takes us for the vulgar things vot vork ! 
You have no wife, like me, to hold the purse. 
You pay your debts, perhaps not worth a curse. 

XXIII. 
But it may be she's only in a trance. 

Or takes me by my whiskers for a bear. 
Or head is giddy from the last night's dance, 

Or vexed may be by some mischievous fair ; 



* The southern fashion of some simpletons placing a parasol before 
their faces, when they see a man before them, straining their eyes from 
or of turning their gide to him, as they pass him, struck me as a touch of 
the sublime. On turning a corner upon them, the ridiculous manoeuvre is 
insulting. A man is doubtless a very vulgar animal to a lady, (I mean 
when he is not in a ballroom.) Besides, it indicates modesty ! Some 
Caspar Hauser, who had never seen a female, might mistake them for 
Houries. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 17 

Afraid, perhaps, of vulgar insolence, 

Of those who at a lady turn and stare; 
Or she may think we're anxious for a hug. 
And take me for that nondescript, John Bug ! 

XXIV. 

Appropos of this lion, — by the way 

John is said to be a perfect gentleman ; 

He makes, 'tis true, a masculine display 
About the mouth ! but then the fellow can 

Treat you decently, by night or day ; 
And ladies very seldom from him ran ! 

John's independence does a stranger strike, 

He's the only big bug here that I much like. 

XXV. 
John takes the lead in singing often times, 

He goes ahead as rough as a bassoon ; 
He likes the preacher to gives out the lines. 

It gives him time, he thinks, to change the tune. 
Which sacred music unto him refines ; — 

But John's been struck with love, or by the moon. 
And my good soul, don't go to Arkansas, 
Or, like Matthias, they will clean your jaw ! 

XXVI. 

What means those asses, mules, is it a fray ? 

Some with a gun, a jug, or fishing line ; 
Why, don't you know ? it is the Sabbath day ; 

To break the Sabbath here is thoucht no crime. 



18 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

E'en when with dogs they hunt a runaway ; 

And pious ladies go abroad to dine. 
The Methodists I found the greatest sinners — 
They care less for their Bibles than their dinners.* 

XXVII. 
See, see, the toupees, jewelry, and lace, — 

This is the Vicksburgh Methodist Society ! 
It is, I'm sure, a democratic place. 

And there's, somehow, a great variety 
Of spitiers, scarce an intellectual face : 

I've no barometer to guage the piety. 
There's one high in the church, I think a sample- 
Few copy by his head or his example. 

XXVIII. 
'Twas here Judge Taylor gave such a surging! 

To " Holy Mother " on purgatory ; 
As I suppose to her as good a purging 

Asa double dose of fish-hooks well could be ; 



* Having been frequently amongst the Methodist brethren, I can voiich 
that their Sunday dinners are very fine. If they have a parson to dine 
with them, the hubbub among the " niggers " is quite agreeable to one 
who loves peace and quietness on^the Sabbath. Not being over fond of 
communing with heaven, they make am.ends by stuffing their bellies. 

f You will often hear the question asked here, — will Judge so-and-so 
preach to-day ? As they are men of disciplined minds they have a large 
auditory. And whether they think it beneath their dignity to consecrate 
themselves wholly to the ministry or not, 1 cannot say ; or whether they 
wish to reap laurels from both professions. For men having plantations 
and large incomes, it savors little of the apostolic spirit. And as Dr. Wi- 
nans stated in New York, many of the best (heaven help the worst !) of 
their preachers could not read, I should think a few learned men would be 
an accession. Thus you will hear it said, Judge tried a cause, 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 19 

But some thought him from the point diverging, 
So he quoted from their authors two or three. 
And lighted up their heads with such effulgence, 
That the old woman cried for some indulgence. 

XXIX. 

I visited these folks, in conference time, — 
I mind it well, though it is long since past ; 

The preacher had a most uncommon whine. 
And sometimes in his preaching did stick fast, 

When he would come grandiloquence sublime, 
But in an hour the Rubicon he passed ! 

He went it hot on his peroration. 

The soul's post-mortem examination. 

XXX. 

When in the pulpit he announced his text. 
He squinted round with a peculiar frown ; 

It made me think — good heavens ! what's coming next! 
Then he commenced to rant worse than a clown, 

At least with repetition me he vexed : 

His dress, I think, was either blue or brown ; 

I was relieved when he at last sat down : 

The conference ought to vote this bore a gown. 



married a couple, and preached a sermon the same day, — in the same gilt- 
buttoned coat, of course. But T need not say their influence in the min- 
istry, however pure their motives, is extremely limited. How different 
many of the brightest lights of the church, who left a lucrative legal pro- 
fession, — the late Dr. Jennings of Nashville, — Blair Linn, and Dr. J. P. 
Wilson of Philadelphia, and a host now living. 



20 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

XXXI. 

They have religion here in noisy form ; 

In numbers they, as usual, are quite strong, — 

At the camp-meetings they are in a storm — * 
It shows to what communion they belong — 

In the class meeting they get rather warm- 
But 'tis soon over, like a lady's song. 

There's many do not have family prayers, 

They are what Wesley would pronounce the tares. 

XXXII. 
These Christians have, it seems, a discipline, 

Which says — they shall not not dare to buy or sell 
Their brother, for it is a grievous sin ; 

How they get over this, I cannot tell : 
It says, they shall not marry near of kin,! 

Or infidels — 'gainst this they do rebel : 
For some, I know, would wed a Puseyite, 
If he had the bait — and would let them bite ! 



^ It is generally rainy weather during a camp meeting. As most of the 
bloods and sporting gentlemen have horses, the attendance is very large. 
Some get co7iverted rega]sirly every season ; but the strong desire to shoot 
a runaway, see a horse-race, go to a ball, or " feed the tiger," soon plunges 
them in the " slough" of rascality. I was listening to a fervid and elo- 
quent exhorter in Memphis, (Tenn.) and asked a preacher who he was, — 
He said he was a poioerful man 3 he had backslidden three times, but he 
thought he would " hold out " this time. They will have things better 
when they get a few more slave-holding bishops ! 

1 1 oifended some of the brethren by telling them, that Dr, Adam 
Clark, speaking of Christians marrying '• sinners," quotes the following 
verse : " Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship 
of the world is enmity against God "^ " And yet many here will jump at a 
man, however immoral, if he has the negroes. And the minister scarce 
asks the question of those who present themselves as candidates for mat- 
rimony. Burn your discipline, I beseech of you. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 21 

XXXIII. 

It says they must not have deceitful curls, — 

And, to be even, they do curl the true 
Hair, which is a venial act for girls, 

Who read the Lady's Book, and nothing do ; 
And they must wear no ornaments or pearls ; 

Like plug tobacco some their hair do screw : 
But I presume they make a reservation 
To break the rules, when they've the inclination. 

XXXIV. 

And here's a member, with a hang-dog look,* 
You'd think he robbed a butcher of his meat ; 

He's conning o'er his Bible, the hymn book ; 
Familiar there, his knowledge is complete : 

The preacher oft him for a sinner took. 
His carcass slanterndicular on the seat : 

He is a Washingtonian, true grit, 

An ignoramus and a hypocrite. 

XXXV. 

Like a conceited coxcomb, he is prim ; 

He deems all those, save Wesleyans, a faction ; 
Their hair is very seldom cut so trim, 

They have no froth for him, and too much action ; 



*This is a character I meet frequently in church and class meetings. 
Their utter " abandon " of common sense, modesty, and gumption, 
makes it difficult how to classify them. To me their squinting, staring, 
and grinning indicates the ass 5 and their looks insult me. They have the 
fundament-dl organ largely developed. 

3 



22 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

See, how he stares as females enter in ! 

But I can't see the point of his attraction : 
They veil from vulgar gaze their facial muscle ; 
He doubtless is attracted by the bustle. 

XXXVI. 

The ladies here, I think, do have the sway,* 
For the majority, you know, must rule ; 

In meetings they do very seldom pray. 

And when they do, they manage to keep cool ; 

Or when they chance to go to the next play, 

They might be classed with some poor simple fool. 

If Wesley could rise here, he'd make a muss. 

And die exclaiming, " the devil is with us ! " 

XXXVII. 

And pray, what is this building here below. 
Grated and barred, much like a nunnery ? 

I see a black nun looking out the window ! 
This is the place for evil company. 



* It is worthy of note, the comparatively large number of females who 
are members of the Church south. Few single men join, except their in- 
tention is, to get acquainted with the sisters. Out of the church you are 
looked upon as a loafer. How many "dairyman's daughters" belong to 
the society, I cannot tell. But the notions of some of the tee-total ladies, 
that a little wine or egg-nog, on new years', is no harm, is funny. It is 
fashionable to be a member of the church here, and few duties are exact- 
ed of members. To say grace and go to camp meeting comprises the re- 
ligion, I should judge, of the largest number ; and I affirm that the ac- 
counts of conversions in many places south, published in the S. W. C. 
Advocate, are empty exaggerations. I would be thought an arrant liar, if 
I stated facts as 1 knew them to be in Memphis, Tenn. But do not many 
deplore this state of things '? Are there no Elijah Steeles left ? Yes ; but 
as it is respectable to do nothing, and puritanic to take an interest in the 
spiritual welfare of their servants, their piety burns low, and, for want of 
exercise, becomes extinct. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 23 

Where petit larceners and loafers go: 

The duelist and cut-throat go scot free ; 
Murderers here are never kept in jail, 
If they can find some '* straw," or other bail. 

XXXVIII. 
And if a darkey chance to run away, 

With his own legs and body, they keep him here. 
As a kind of lunatic, gone astray. 

Till some one, called an owner, does appear ; 
And then he's very often made to pay 

The forfeit, with a burned breast, or cropped ear ; 
'Twas here they kept the infamous Wild Bill, — 
This fellow nearly ate them out of swill \ 

XXXIX. 

'Tis wondrous with what boldness, and how free 
From care consummate rogues do shove along ; 

With a kind of obsolete dignity, 

Sans every thing but reputation gone ! 

Great bloods for mirth, and fight, and revelry ; 

And when their necks want stretching, they are on 

Their way to Texas, that land of gentihty. 

Where diamond cuts diamond with civility ! 

XL. 

See this large house, the garden trim and slick ; 

Pray who lives here ? But knock, or ask the porter; 
This is the place, I think, of Vick — 

No, no ; of him who wed his pretty daughter ; 



24 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH, 

He thought he touched the Baptists to the quick, 

By proving that they used too much cold water ; 
He was, some years ago, a good mechanic, * 
Which puts one old maid often in a panic ! 

XLT, 

Perhaps I may erelong propose for her, — 

I'm of the natural aristocracy ; 
And noble blood, would certainly prefer 

A scion of the true nobility ! — 
To which pretensions should she once demur, 

I'll go it solely on gentility. 
With the exception in the marriage writ — 
That I can't be an empty hypocrite ! 

XLII. 

*' Frailty, thy name is woman ! " — one hath said 
Who human nature read, plain as a book ; 

He hit the nail I think upon the head. 
Presuming- he a walk round Avon took : 

And then we know that he was married ; — 
His Mary's frock — the pretty dem^ to hook : 

Angels ! that God in mercy banish'd here. 

But tainted by earths vicious atmosphere. 



* A man who has been a good mechanic may make a good preacher 5 
but one who has not skill enough to fashion the " material " would make 
sad work to mould for good the "immaterial.'' I boarded with one of 
this kind in IVFeraphis, Tenn. He said he had experienced Christian per- 
fection twenty years. One evening in the act of rising from prayer, he 
said fiercely, (having heard the dog bark while praying,) ''I must have my 
gun loaded; I bet I'll pepper some of them niggers who are strolling 
around here." I concluded he might take my hat. 



A WALK ABOUT VICSKSBURGH. 25 

XLIII. 

He is, 'tis true, a man of sterling merit, 
Fine roman nose, a forehead high, and bold, 

Hair a la Maffit — conceited, full of spirit ; 
But what is worth or character to gold. 

Which if you from a horse thief should inherit, 
You'll be in every Album here enroll'd ! 

But worth and merit often live to be 

Move a mushroon aristocracy. 

XLIV. 

And, pray, what house is this down here below ? 

The garden is quite pretty, trim, and tasty ; 
That is Chapman's, — what, him that tries to crow ? 

Or he who brother Mina kill'd so hasty ? 
The man who makes the razor strop I trow, 

Which makes you shave as slick as eating pastry ? 
You seem to know too much, pray do keep cool, 
Chapman — the man that keeps the female school. 

XLV. 

Oh yes ! and here's another at the Phoenix, 
A monster, for to rise from out its ashes ; 

'Twas this which put — in such a fix. 

And broke this child of mammon all to smashes. 

Look at the window, see that little vix- 
en the school-mistress — what eye-lashes ! 

I'd like to be her bright " particular star " — 

But seem to think I would prefer Miss Car ! 
3* 



26 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

XL VI. 

One Sabbath here I with a friend did roam, 

We met four beauties, all were dress'd in white, 

Not meet, for to surround the upper throne, — 

The "Lamb " does there the "pure in heart" invite! 

One bawled, or bellow'd, in a harlot tone 

Between a sucking calf and screeching kite ; — 

"What's the matter girls, don't be afraid of them. 

They're only a simple pair of Irishmen."* 

XLVII. 

But here the petticoats usurp control, 

And manly modesty of course is dumb ; 
For when these pure Sapphiras go the whole 
Hog principle in ethicks — we succumb ; 



* I made enquiry about this virago, and learnt that she was a decent girl , 
probably a boarding school miss, who had been stufF'd with the idea that 
a man was an inferior animal — (especially if not made by the tailor 3) and 
the prerogative of her sex to insult with impunity must not be questioned. 
The expression of her countenance, and tones of her voice, were ex- 
tremely insulting. A short time afterwards, coming from work in the 
evening with a large butterfly in my hand, when passing a sweet dark 
complexioned creature — T can see her bright eye now ! — a tall cadaverous 
ugly wench by her side, while the former smiled, the latter hemm'd and 
scraped her skeleton throat — with the intention of insulting. These are 
small matters to some, but to the sensitive and discerning they portray a 
character truly despicable. The female who makes the prerogative of 
her sex — (exempt from chastisement,) an excuse for gratuitous insult; is 
scarce fit for a brothel. If young women knew the sentient hearts that 
beat under a rough exterior, and how cheering a pleasant countenance 
and modest deportment was to those whose station in society may be 
below theirs 3 they would not sacrifice even their good wishes for the 
indulgence of a petty spleen, or the gratification (which is peculiar to 
slavery,) of inflicting pain. For many a modest young man, who has been 
insulted by an empty headed Miss for his poverty, has lived to see his 
daughters dignified with virtue, while her progeny has become a nuisance 
on the earth. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 27 

You'll lose your body, if not lose your soul, 

By a stray bullet from some gallant's gun ; 
For you're a stranger, shocking — but a male ! 
And he'll believe the tender virgin's tale. 

XLVIII. 
I've known some splendid specimens of yoie. 

And always seen that they reap'd their deserts, — 
Cuckold their husbands or else turned w , 

Live on the fullness of their rotten hearts ; 
If they don't chance to turn to dust before 

They long have practised their hellish arts ; 
And when they wed, their temper's at the worst. 
Their children rise henceforth — and call them cursed. 

XLIX. 

But why be disconcerted by a goose. 

Whose noisy babblings frequently assail thee ? 

They have no fear, you will their front teeth loose, 
E'en though with billingsgate the furies hail thee ; 

Nor would you wish them drowned in a sluice — 
Though you might skin them were they not too scaly! 

The softer sex, how hard that cheek can be, 

That loses woman's charms — sweet modesty. 

L. 

Some females are most brutal and ingrate. 

Towards those whose cv'ry action deem them kind ; 

And who to pain a slave would hesitate — 

And who to wed their equals have declined — 



5 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

Retiring virtues impudence does hate ; 

The god of fashion does these hecates blind : 
They jeer at modest meritj manly worth, 
Then wed the meanest vagabond on earth ! 

LI. 

See here ! — is this a Jewish synagogue ? 

I have no doubt they'll let a stranger in ; 
Or we, perchance, can get in here incog, 

Unled — unfettered — unrestrained by Gioin, — 
He'll tell his hearers something for to jog 

Their memories — when he does begin, 
But list the music ! these are very brisk airs ; 
The man in the robes — I don't like his whiskers ! 

LII. 

A lady's man, — and he's been getting spliced 
Unto a damsel — pious, proud, and wealthy, 

Though gold I do not think his heart entic'd ; 
Perhaps he feels that preaching is unhealthy, 

As once a week has barely some sufficed — 
And then his visits where not short or stealthy : 

At temperance meetings he is never seen. 

Or Bible anniversaries, — 'twas too plebeian ! 

LIII. 
There is a sprinkling of the upper classes. 

The ladies dress'd, as for Dick Johnson's ball ! 
But there is one, who all the rest surpasses ; 

In person graceful, dignified, and tall — 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 29 

It may be " Alice," here there are no " masses," 

They read the prayers, not praying, one and all. 
This is the " true Church," I very much suspect 
'Tis Bishop Otey's — but not God's elect ! 

LIV. 

They had a fair, and 'twas a sin to Moses 
To see the notions, if not pretty faces ; 

A half eagle bought a bunch of posies, 
And ten a very pretty pair of braces — 

Which the great wealth of " Oliver " discloses ! — 
He'll wear this " roland " doubtless at the races. 

In fairs, it seems there's many things unMr ; 

I cannot say, I was but seldom there. 

LV. 

Friend Lawrence here his calling does pursue, 
To hammer Greek and Latin in the head ; 

Although he looks at green uncommon blue, ^ 
He is a gentleman, I think well read; 

Whether or not he likes his timid crew, 

He'll ne'er " give up the ship," till he is dead : 

I took him for a Scotchman by his pate — 

But he affirms he is from New York state. 



* That an aged and respectable Divine should be cowhided, for the 
midaucity of turning a young lady out of school for misconduct, is not 
remarkable in a city where a. petticoat " has the splendor of a coronation 
garment." And if the jury award him damages I shall think it more 
remarkable ! 



so A WALK ABOUT VICKSEURGH. 

LVI. 

About these parts there is a poetess, 

Whose verses, have a most melodious chime. 

And who she is I surely cannot guess, 

Although her stanzas were preferr'd to mine — 

Still that has never caus'd me much distress, 
For there is one who can us both outshine - — 

You've doubtless read, it thrill'd me through and through 

That peerless gem, — call'd the last " interview.' 

LVII. 
The moral's very curious to be sure. 

It is the praise of rank hypocrisy, — 
To kill yourself another for to cure, 

Whose love perchance may also fickle be ; — 
But woman's love some say is always pure. 

Until a wealthier rival she does see ! 
But to turn critic is not my intent — 
I waive the moral for the sentiment. 

LVIII. 

'Tis what I call " exceeding beautiful ! " 
'Twould look so pretty in the best review ; 

Although it does not seem to give in full 

The reason, why she did that course pursue ; 

For women oft are stubborn as a bull, — 

And when they will — ivill force a passage through. 

Led on by impulse, fancy, or desire. 

In loves intrigues, they very seldom tire ! 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 31 

LIX. 

And she, quite probable, don't write for hire ; 

Her poetry is not a " compilation," 
That general readers never can admire, 

Or some Professor's wonderful translation, 
To show that perseverance does not tire ; 

She gives it fresh her own warm heart's creation ; -— 
Like Pollock, scouting Painim's base mythology, 
For love, and holy Virtue's etymology. 

LX. 

Sing on, sweet nymph — thou strik'st a magic lyre ! 

For the sweet " bird of Paradise "=^ has flown r 
Pow'r, beauty, genius, brilliancy and fire. 

And melancholy sweetness is thy own, — 
Thy muse will many a tender thought inspire, 

In hearts that have nat all been turn'd to stone. 
For, dear madam, I would kiss your big toe, t 
Before the lips of beauties here below ! "J 

LXI. 

We'll go to Hacks, — perhaps he'll not complain, 

If one should call just as a visiter ; 
For we may get a job to measure rain ; 

Or take observations since he's lost his sister ; § 

* Mrs. Hermans, f As I am a catholic admirer. | Below — down the river. 

§ This horticulturist, who published barometical observations, the 
quantity of rain which fell, &C; — suddenly stopped his learned diary, 
during the fall and winter rains. His sister, who understood these things, 
having died, some wags attributed the " observations " to her pen. But 
as the rains were tremendous, it was probably found impossible to meas- 
ure them. 



32 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

Or he might pettishly seize up his cane, 
And raise upon my tangled moss a blister ! 

For since the rain, his Oracle's not spoken 
The quantity — I think his gauge has broken. 

LXII. 

Here, see the rail-road ! but it does not please 
The denizens, it takes the trade to Jackson, 

When Graves the treasurer stuck that breeze, 
This likely is the road he made his tracks on : 

It's managed by three assignees. 

Who, it does seem, most always have their hats on 

Eight thousand dollars on/i/ for each one, 

I'd do it all — for merely half that sum. 

LXIII. 
This old baronial white wash'd castle, 

(Or should be old,) — 'tis worthy of a lecture 
From Roscoe ; to my notion it is past all • 

Order, and ideas of architecture ; 
But as we are on the top of the last hill, 

We will not bother much about the texture 
Of things within, nor will we stay to grieve 
For the "days," — or picture of "Adam and Eve."' 

LXIV. 

Here lives Tom R s; Tom is quite a genius. 

At least since the great rail-road bank did break ; 

There's a resemblance, I do think, between us, 
Especiall^in whiskers, — but that don't make 

* A copy of Dubufe's great painting. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 33 

That crime of thine, great duelist, less heinous, 

Trying to make a widow of Mrs. liake. 
Tom, my dear friend, don't fight another duel — 
The de'il may have you, whiskers and all, for fuel ! 

LXV. 
Here's life — a riding on a fine black horse, 

How unlike ''death on the pale horse," West's gifted 
Picture ; looks like a baron, rather sour and course — 

As if some rogue his money bags had shifted ! 
He neither looks to right nor left, the force 

Of habit ; I'd like to have his head sifted 
By some Phrenologist, — to see if he could stray, 

" Above the golden path, or milky way." 

LXVI. 

Here see a sight ; — those tall wax candles burning ! 

Is it a wake .'' — I wonder where's the whiskey ! 
See ! See ! — that lad, mouth open like a sturgeon. 

Fins sprinkling " holy water " quite frisky ! — 
Oh, bless my stars — he's praying to the Virgin ! 

I took him by his coat for Prezaminsky : * 
But the performance here does beat the Jews — 
I wonder if they'll let us in the pews ? 

LXVII. 

He'll tell us sure how man was made a crature. 
And Cain was born some time before his brother, 

* A Polish exile, I was mistaken : still I think he was a pat-xioi, 
4 



34 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

That there is, very clartly, ev'ry fature 

Of the Apostles' Church in Holy Mother ; t 

And tnat in purgatory you may mate your 
Dearest friends, and know one from another I 

But to my mind there's something- very stygian 

In this ould Irish Catholic religion. 



t It is curious to an observer of men, to him with a sensibility acute, 
subtle, and discriminating, with" no education'' to bias his judgment, to 
mark the wide difference between the profession and practice of those 
who arrogate to themselves the sounding title of the Holy Apostolic 
Church. There are so many, especially from Europe,who are incapacitated 
by prejudice, or want of soul, to think, — that the name answers for the es- 
sence. And although to a child of nature, a wild Indian, or a Negro, the 
discrepancy between their pretensions and actions is apparent; they op- 
pose insult, and condemn those who, with purest motives, practise a pure 
religion. The questions arise, what is Christianity ? — From whence our 
knowledge of God? In the view of a sane and sensible man, religion 
does not consist in mummery, — in mere form, — in any externals merely 
whatever ; but to " love thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbor as 
thyself" And can those love God who are ignorant of his character, and 
take the instructions of card playing priests for the teachings of the Bible? 
It would puzzle the great author of all error, as well as evil, to tell the 
motives of the originators of the various systems of error which have 
cursed the earth. To the honest inquirer after truth, the Bible is a 
sufficient guide. Men being fallible and peccable beings, they will 
disagree on unimportant things. But the wayfaring man, though a fool, 
cannot err if he is honest in heart, in all that pertains to salyation. What 
Christian would reject that hymn of the sublimest of poets ; — " Alas ! and 
did my Savior bleed ? "—What Catholic but looks upon it as rank heresy? 
Not having that faith which purifies the heart, and overcomes the world, 
penances and purgatories are resorted to as an offset ! — Miserable de- 
ceivers ! — Foolish sciolists ! — Insane reasoners !— Infatuated beings ! — 
The preaching of the Cross which is to these Greeks foolishness, is to the 
poor Indian the power and the wisdom of God. The Christian missionary 
who labors among the heathen, addresses them from the Holy Volume. 
But he that dispenses with the Bible for the teachings of the " Church,"— 
must first have his paraphernalia of images, Avax candles, «fec., to humbug 
the staring natives into a belief of Catholicism ! I remarked, south, that 
it was rare to find a negro simple enough to be a sincere Catholic ! They 
meet two or three of them together to pray and sing hymns of praise, 
9,nd know, and feel when their sins are forgiven. But among the large 
number of Catholics I have known, I never knew any to have a prayer 
meeting ! 1 have known them meet together to curse the heretics ! 
Some of these " lights of the world," will be offended at my remarks- 
Who thought Bishop Hughe's denunciatiation of the advocates of the Bible 
in New York, (as infidel agrarians, and subverters of the true faith,) was 
sound doctrine. If they were Christians, (I mean generally — I do'nt say 
there cannot be such among them in spite of their doctrines,) would they 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 35 

LXVIIT. 

See, how the fellow shakes his incense round ! 
(God loves the incense of a heart sincere ;) 
And then the childish bells must often sound, 

To tell them when, and what, for to revere; 
While the priest enters with his bows profound, 
As if to say, you heretics, stand clear ! 
This fellow's rubbed himself against the college, — 
Still his priest's head retains more brogue than knowledge. 

not pray for and strive to convert their erring brethren ? Who would take 
the last words of Bishop England to be those that a Christian would 
naturally utter? I was much amused at a controversy in Memphis, Tenn. 
between a Mr. Stewart; a builder^ and the priest or schoolmaster of the 
place. Mr. Stewart denounced their church in the process of erection, 
as a black altar of superstition, «fec. The grandiloquent and Jesuitical re- 
ply was worthy of Hughes himself. His argument was the usual one, to 
wit : — that Carrol, and Gaston, Hosiusko, La-fayette, &c., were all Catho- 
lics, — though he might have kaown that La-fayette told a distinguished 
American citizen, that if the liberties of this country were ever endanger- 
ed, it would be by the intrigues of the Jesuits. He did not add Pope 
Alexander, Voltaire, &c., to the list. Before their church was finished, 
(part of the money for the erection of which was sent from Rome,) they 
held their meetings in a wretched old school house in the " grove." Op. 
passing,one Sabbath, the door being open, my attention was arrested by a 
genius with a slouchy looking theatrical dress on, bowing and crossing 
himself before two wax candles, in common brass candlesticks, on an old 
table with a small image (intended for) Christ, while some were gaping at 
him with their mouths wide open. I thought for a moment that the fellow 
was conjuring with the devil ! — not dreaming of the " august ceremonies" 
of Holy Mother being performed in this crazy tenement : the first emotion 
was involuntary laughter ! The next was the incomprehensible idea, that 
any one could take this to be the intelligent worship of Him, who requires 
truth in the inward parts, and whose sacrifices are those of a broken heart 
and contrite spirit. But the confidence these votaries place in their 
ghostly instructers is unbounded. I worked a few years since in Troy, 
with two brothers, (McGuires,) rather intelligent young men : In an 
argument in favor of Catholicism, he adduced the words of the great Dr. 
Moriarety, since " burnt out " in Philadelphia. In a sermon to the faithful 
in Troy, this eloquent " defender of the faith," used the following lan- 
guage : — " If an angel was to come from the shining courts above and 
stand in this aisle, and proclaim with a voice of thunder, that the Catholic 
religion was false, I would say, away, thou demon damn'd — the Church is 
founded on a rock 5 and the storms and commotions of ages has not shaken 
the glorious fabric, — and she will arise in splendor, and be adorned with 
majesty, when all other systems shall fall 3 and the true Apostolic (i. e. 
the Catholic,) religion shall pervade the earth ! " I need not say that this 
was to them a demonstration stronger than proof of Holy Writ. 



SQ A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

LXIX. 

And those young actors coming on the stage, 
To enlighten Yankees with their Latin singing ; 

And O benOj homo, romeos, by the page ; 
Like Roman improvisatries, numbers ringing ! 

And they do look so pretty and so sage, 

Their star-spangled dress (not banner) round them 
swinging ; 

If these young priests are never to be mated, 

For fear of danger — let them be c d ! 



But when men reject the Bible, from whence our knowledge of God is 
derived, to follow vain traditions, what can be expected of them? But 
one says, there are great and good men among Catholics. So there are 
among Mormons. If this work is of man or God, judge ye ? Look into 
Catholic countries and see the workings of the system : see Louis Philippe, 
having his palace repaired on the Sabbath ! Look at the Pope appropriat- 
ing money for a theatrical exhibition, in Carnival time. See his last 
" Bull," trying to gore those who dare read and think for themselves ! 
See the miserable state of Catholic Ireland compared with Protestant 
Scotland !— and let the Bible be the light of thy feet, and the guide of thy 
path. 

The assertions of Catholics that the Bible has made a hundred sects, is 
as philosophical and true as that all within their fold think alike, or that 
the triumph of Catholicity is the hope of the world. And the disengen- 
uousness of certain " Protestant " editors when speaking of what they 
call sectarianism, furnishes the papists with a strong argument, (to him at 
least,) against the Bible. With such men, a Tyng, or a Barnes, a Chee- 
ver, or a Chambers, or any other pure patriot who would speak in favor of 
the Bible, are sectarians. There is no common ground with them on 
which " evangelical'' Christians can meet: and if a man have the piety 
and learning of Baxter, the moment he opposes fundamental errors, he is 
sectarian. But I shall not dispute with nothingariatis ! We have lately 
had an example of the spirit and modesty of the Catholics ; in the form of 
an address to Messrs. Clay and Frelinghuysen, ostensibly to ask their 
views of certain matters ; but really to irritate and insult the Protestant 
portion of the community. I have not this paper at hand. 1"hey call 
them knaves and hypocrites for carrying a Bible in a procession 5 and ask 
for the evidence that Protestanism has ever been the distinguishing re- 
ligion of the United States. I add a note from a New York paper. With 
" characteristic " meanness and fa!sehood,they make most protestants par- 
ticipants in outrages, in which probably no member of a Christian Church 
was engaged in. These exponents of American principles are particularly 
severe upon the " Native American " party 5 and the idea of carrying a 
" Protestant " Bible in a procession, was as painful to their feelings as 
the elevation of the "■ host" in New Orleans, is insulting to tlie common 



A WALK ABOUT VICSKSBURGH. 37 

LXX. 

I cannot help but blame the architect, 

Who has not placed upon the roof o. cross ! 

This should be done ; it is a sad neglect, 

As there's none in their preaching — a great loss ! 

Or they might pay St. Peter some respect, 

And carve him with the keys, as he's their boss ! 

Or Torquemada, or if some better Man^ 

Stick up a bust of Madam Pope Joan ! 

sense of a heretic. When the great high priest of their professsion, 
Daniel O'Connell; gets matters arranged in Ireland, I hope they will re- 
turn — install him their Vicar Genera!, and as the millenium will soon com- 
mence, they will be from the annoyances, the tract and Bible societies of 
Protestants, and that ^' licentious liberty of the press,'' which is so fatal to 
their success here 5 and which from their associations,habits, education,and 
«nfi-republican religion, they are utterly disqualified to appreciate. I hope 
my fellow mechanics will acquaint themselves with the genius and spirit 
of Roman Catholicism, that they may be able to oppose it successfully 5 
-and bxirn the mark of the " beast " so deep in her forehead, that all 
their holy water will not be able to wash it out. 

In one of the largest churches in St. Louis, during the '' performance," 
the priest holds up to view a golden image, (Nebuchadnezzar like) of a 
foot in length ! This sight, with the concomitant of good music, drav/s 
hundreds of Protestants to the church. In JNew Orleans, the services 
are diversified with, — I'm stuck now! fmagine a small hearse lined with 
velvet, tassals, &c., — four things carrying it, and the silver hairs of one of 
the apostles' successors, (Oh dear ! Oh dear I) peering above the top, like 
Paddy in the sedan chair with the bottom out ; and you will have some 
idea of the mummeries practised in the '' One true, Holy Apostolic 
Church," which would disgrace Mormonism itself! 

How an " Irish Gentleman in search of a religion," could select this 
as his beau ideal, is somev;hat inexplicable to '^ a gentleman of nature." 

The Religion of '76. — In a sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Smith 
of Washington, on the Fourth July, 1844, entitled " Religion and Patriot- 
ism of '76," the statement is quoted from Dr. Baird, of the number of 
ministers and churches existent in our country at the time of the Declara- 
tion of Independence. The Episcopalians had 250 ministers, and 300 
churches; Baptists, ministers, 350, churches 380; Congregationalists, 
ministers, 575, churches, 700; Presbyterians, ministers, 140, churches, 
300; Lutherans, ministers, 25, churches, 60; Associate ministers, 13, 
churches 20; Moravians, ministers, 12, churches 8; Roman Catholics, 
priests, 26, churches 52; German Reformed, ministers 25, churches, 60. 
Total : ministers, 144.1 ; churches, 1940. 

Thus the Declaration of Independance was a Protestant act. There is 
but one Roman Catholic name on it, out of 56. The Presbytery of 
Hanover, in Virginia, was the first body of ministers of any denomination 
4* 



38 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

LXXI. 

They paint the windows to keep out the sun ; 

But there's a beauty, shining like a star ! 
She from the beauteous " groves of blarney " come, 

The peace of some poor heretic to mar ; 
I'd like to know if her heart has been won, 

I'd pray to her — my prayer she might not bar, — 
She would protest, 'tis likely, against me, 
Or go, perhaps, into a nunnery. 

LXXII. 

Hereditary , let them go 

At a priest's beck, and tremble at his nod ; 

Hoodwinked — humbugged — their actions show 
They love the humbug, while they kiss the rod. 

" Nescience, the mother of devotion," know 
Is an insult to reason and to God. 

These are a curiosity — Ahem ! 

So requiescat in pace — Amen ! 

that openly recognized that act. This they did in a memorial to the As- 
sembly, now among the archives of the State The spirit and temper, as 
well as the doctrines of the Puritans, are well known. The men who de- 
clared and the men who achieved our Independence, believed in the Bible 
as the only rxile of faith and practice. Nay, Congress officially recog- 
nised the Bible. On the 11th of September, 1777, a Committee of Con- 
gress recommended the importation of 20,000 Bibles, as the proper types 
for printing a Bible could not be had in this country ; the importations to 
be made from Holland, Scotland, and elsewhere. Whereupon, it was 
moved that the Committee on Commerce be directed to import 20,000 
Bibles from Europe. Among those who voted for this resolution, are the 
illustrious names of Samuel Adams, (a Puritan indeed,) John Adams, 
Elbridge Gerry, John Witherspoon, Laurens, &c. How they must have 
felt their dependence on the overruling providence of God ! And this is 
our Protestant Bible which the Romanists would exclude from our public 
schools ! Holland, that gave a refuge to the Puritans, had it ; Scotland, 
the land of the free, the fearless and heroic contenders for the faith, 
could supply us with the Word of God. These things should not be for- 
gotten, especially in these times of resistance unto blood. The enemy of 
the Protestant Bible is abroad. May a standard be raised against him ! — 
Neio York Journal of Commerce. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 39 

LXXIII. 

Here comes a beauty, without dress or paint, 

If not in countenance, in character ; 
For modesty on her lays no restraint, — 

And at vulgarity she don't demur ; 
A naked regiment would not make her faint ! 

And virtuous feelings are not much to her : 
She may be called one of the vulgar great, 
Known by her manners, and her large estate. 

LXXIV. 

She says she is a widow : — " By my sowl," 
(As Paddy says) that is too much for me ; 

For I am sure, if I did wear a cowl. 
It would draw out my risibility ! 

And I don't think there's many here would growl, 
If she goes to Maria's nunnery. 

But as true love is very often crossed, 

I'll tell you how the widowee was lost : — • 

LXXV. 

Her bettei' half was going to be hung. 

Was on the way which to the gallows led ; 

The sheriff said to him, but not in fun, 

To save his neck from stretching, he should wed ! 

The dame full scon, with squire and bridesmaid come. 
In hopes for to be lawful married ; 

But in place of yielding her his hand and heart, 

He bawled out fierce, — ' 'Hangman, drive on that cart!" 



40 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

LXXVI. 

Yet she is not of fretful, southern blood ; 

She is of a harder and more northern stock ; 
And though she's somewhat past her maidenhood, 

She's fixed in brass, as solid as a rock ! 
Perhaps she'd wed a stranger, if she could, 

And wind him up as we do wind a clock ; 
And if she names the ground, and time, and place, 
I'll run some Cuff* for her — a scrub-foot race. 

LXXVII. 
Here, rushing, comes a southern exquisite ! 

I took him, at first sight, to be a stager ; 
A southern belle was by his riding smit ; 

For see, he rides as if 'twas for a wager ! 
He has more nonchalance, 'tis true, than wit ; 

With a rich Pa he surely can engage her ; 
Though he looks savage, he is not a cannibal, — 
Still his propensities are rather animal. 

LXXVIII. 

Fierce, furious, with an independent air, 

A half-genteel, though rather martial bearing. 

As if to say, " insult me, and take care. 

This bowie knife your vitals shall be tearing ! 

I'll send your spirit that place for to share. 

Where Hagan's coward ruffian should be sharing:" 

Of Homer's heroes here you few will find ; 

Where '' mildest manners mark'd the noblest mind." 

* And take care that he wins. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 41 

LXXIX. 

Is this a creek or river, here below, 

Deep sunk between those slippery banks of mud ? 
This is the Mississippi, whose overflow 

Does cause a pestilence when falls the flood ; 
Its rise is caused by Misissouri snow, 

Ohio rains, a sprinkling of negro blood ; * 
This is the river Flint h'as oft been praising, 
But, to my eyes, it does not look — '' Amazon." 

LXXX. 

My body I would often been for hidipg^ 

In this north water, if it had been thinner ; 

The waves are small that I would be for striding, — ' 
Still I might make an alligator's dinner ! 

The ladies notice you when you are riding — 
I'd rather be unnoticed, a good swimmer : 

I would not swim across this far-famed stream, 

For the brightest belle I have in Vicksburgh seen ! | 

LXXXL 

The ladies here, to me, are not superior ; 

As some would make believe, an angel race, — 
Except a few, I think they are inferior 

In form — in soul — in majesty — in grace — 



* When the yonng negroes come down to tlie river side for water for tiie 
hands on the plantations, the alligators, which are lying in the sun, gobble 
thera up in a minute, spilling, of course, a few drops of blood. 

t I except one vidder. 



42 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

I've seen some handsome ones in the interior, 

But then they would not look you in the face, 
If you had no negroes, and, like me. 
That seal of reprobation — poverty ! 

LXXXII. 

Some love to show themselves, as at a fair. 
Good heavens ! — but look how they do drive ! 

Here's one a coming now, with the cropped hair, • 
Jack, she'll be over us, as I'm alive ! 

She's riding, probably, to take the air, 
Or on the dust she raises, she can thrive ! 

Here comes a belle — what an Egyptian walk ! 

Her graceful mien has been with me the talk. 

LXXXIII. 

Sometimes they go to Mississippi springs. 
Or Brandon, famous for her many sins ; 

And if time pass not by on golden wings. 
They let it pass in playing of ten pins ; 

While their shrill voices through the alley rings, 
As with the " ponies " one the decade thins : 

These springs are famous for some childish plays 

And, worst of all, upon the Sabbath days ! 



* It 13 not uncommon to see a delicate creatu'-e alone, without a l)onne(, 
whip in hand, driving a horse at the top of his speed, hliiuling a fellow 
with the dust, to the admiraiion of gaping gents, (wlio, some liow or other, 
have a notion that a " lady" is a very extraordinary piece of humanity,) 
who would think it immodest to look at or to speak to a plebian ! But as 
they generally hold the purse, they do as they please. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 43 

LXXXIV. 

'Twas sport for me to be on a plantation, 
For sometimes with the ladies I have ate ; 

Like abbesses, they know, and feel, their station — 
Some dirtj-shirted slave does on them wait : 

I saw one leer at me with hesitation, — 
They think all " workmen " scratch a ivoolly pate ! 

By different ones my talents have been rated, — 

But here a fellow is annihilated. 

LXXXV. 

And, for myself, I'm of the Quaker notion, 
My person clean, I like all clean around me : 

To see a set of dirty sweeps in motion. 

If I'm poetic, it surely does confound me ; 

Their butter is not made so clean as '' Goshen " — * 
I did not tell them this, or they would pound me ! 

Or they might say I'm nicer than a prude — 

With more than female tidiness endued. 



* On the plantations it is rare to see any neatness or taste among the 
servants. The kitchen wouU frighten a Quakeress ! The miserable ar- 
rangement to draw water — the crazy old tubs, &c. for washing — the scan- 
ty cooking utensils — the manner in which they sleep with their clothes on, 
frequently until they become lousy, — "did me much exprise," The dif- 
ference in the appearance of the house and inmates, however, is very 
striking. The ladies seemed to me to try how many dresses they could 
rumple, soil, &C.5 knowing that the washing cost nothing. It is common, 
(though a modern innovation) fur mechanics to eat at the same table; but 
for a young lady to notice you as if jou were a human being, is " vastly 
ungenteel." With three or four ladies sitting opposite me, I have tried 
repeatedly to catch their eyes, but in vain. I mention this for the novelty 
oi the thing. It is apparent that you should not sit with them, if they 
had their way in the matter. To one who has been used to be treated like 
a white man, and smiled on by the beautiful, it was cutting — very ! 



44 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

LXXXVI. 

Pray what is this, a smoke-house, or a stable ? 

A place, most probably, to boil pitch in ; 
Oh, see the negro, squalling, on the table ! 

This is what they call, down south, a kitchen ; 
The house, and cooks, to me, are rather sable. 

Although they turn their eyes up quite bewitching ! 
But I must travel very quickly from it. 
Or it might give a fellow the black vomit ! 

LXXXVII. 
I worked once in Louisiana, 

Where a tall creature tried to hide her face, 
When she would pour the coffee, hand the manna — 

(I mean corn bread,) or took her mother's place ; 
Her name, I seem to think, was Julian,* — A 

Remnant of a somewhat prosperous race : 
She kept her bonnet on, much like a nun ; 
To some it was insulting — to me 'twas fun I 

LXXXVIII. 

I wrote these stanzas underneath her roof ; 

If she had known it, I would have had to bolt ! 
I wish I had her portrait by Dubufe ! 

My friends might think perhaps I was a dolt — 



* I saw one of those ladies, so much afraid of seeing a " poor fel- 
low," (lier fiither, when he squatted here some tv\enly years ago, was as 
poor as a beggar,) take a board several inches wide, and wail a little De- 
gress till she squalled considerable. That slavery annihilates the gentle- 
ness and tend'^rness connatural to the female heart, 1 have seen many 
striking proofs. 

" Oh ! there is something about Julia, that is very peculiar ! 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 45 

I know she's flesh and blood, I have the proof, — 

She made a negro squeal worse than a colt ! 
To some, some things quite feminine do seem ; 
To others, assinine, in the extreme ! 

LXXXIX. 

How numerous are the ladies that can chat — 
How few we find are able to converse ! 

They can ogle, giggle, wriggle, and all that, 
Or some stale, snivelling balderdash rehearse ; 

Some have set phrases wonderfully pat ; 

And some are always whispering, which is worse ; 

To me the girls are either kind or rude. 

The good for nothing — or the very good ! 

XC. 

They 're not like the male gender, apt to think — 
E'en when they read in church the holy Psalter, 

They/eeZ sometimes, when feeling strikes a link 
That chains affection to the holy altar ; 

Or from a billet-doux ideasdrink, 

Which makes her very tender heart to falter ; 

As with the revelation of his flame. 

He gives the day, when she must change her name. 

XCI. 

The Scripture says, they are the weaker vessel ; 

'Tis true, they cannot do without a mate ! 
This is the notion, I believe, of Cecil, 

Or Milton, blinded in the marriage state ; 



46 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

Some pregnant dears are very apt to mess ill ; 

Though barrenness, like old maids, they do hate I 
Some are destructive as the little weavel — 
But still, withal, a necessary evil ! 

XCII. 
How pale some look, for want of exercise ! 

For coward custom holds them in her thrall ; 
The dusty atmosphere, and sunny skies, 

Renders their chance of riding rather small ; 
Their lungs are strengthened by their frequent cries 

For help — if they should let a toothpick fall ! 
If they are married, and should have an heir, — 
A hlach wet nurse would make a stranger stare. 

XCIII. 
Two modest beauties, — stop till they are past — 

How lovely both to an unpractised eye ! 
But in their minds how ivondrous the contrast ! 

Though the exterior scrutiny defy : 
The one has charms that will forever last — 

The other is a painted butterfly ; 
But are not both of them surpassing fair ? 
So oft are idiots — save a vacant stare. 

XCIV. 
Ob, could we in each beauteous mien descry * 
The mental worth that unto each belongs ! 



* Nothing has more strikingly arrested my attention than the infinite 
difference between the minds of persons in the same stations in life. With 
some little observation I have mentally ejaculated in places where I have 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 47 

How often does the mien the soul belie, 

Though flatter 'd with love's eulogistic songs ? 

How many empty heads would be passed by, 
That gain the homage of admiring throngs ? 

How high does seem a palace from a bog ! — 

How infinite an angel from a hog ! 

xcv. 

I've seen some females who were quite fastidious, 
And look'd as dumb as any telegraph ; 

Whom, notwithstanding, I did find perfidious, 
And deal behind you in a rude horse-laugh ; 

And meant their sneers, and looks, to be invidious, — 
A modest, poor young man with them's a calf; 

Though God on him hath majesty bestowed. 

He the immortal pyramid — they the toad. * 



been, judging comparatively, — there sits an angel — here a fool — there a 
provokingly lovely woman — here a beautiful wretch, impudent, and scarce 
above a brute ! And yet such is the assinine nature of a majority of bi- 
peds, that a man is judged of by his coat, gold, or any and every thing, save 
morals and brains ! 1 have rarely seen females who had common gump- 
tion in this matter, save and except those who were " children of God;" 
and they are as much above my eulogy as the great mass of conceited and 
smart ladies are beneath the contempt of a man of sensibility. If a young 
man of genius, after struggling for years witli poverty and scorn, becomes 
distinguished as a man of merit, how anxious some ladies are for his 
smiles and company, not one of whom but would have frowned on him 
with contempt a few years before. If nobleness of soul, if exalted virtues, 
if sensibility and mental qualities, were always portrayed in the beauty of 
the countenance, and the opposite qualities by the reverse, I doubt not 
many beauties would strikingly resemble the pig- faced lady ; and some 
pale and rather disagreeable features, would be lovely indeed. 

* S )me one, speaking of O'Connell's slander on Washington, compares 
it to a toad spitting its venom at the base of the immortal pyramids. 



48 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

XCVI. 

Here is a lady, lovely in her mien, 

Con-natural grace — a modest dignity ; 

As if like " Vic " she had been born a queen ! 
From vulgar pride — patrician meaness free. 

For have you ever in her presence been ? 

She'll treat the meanest slave vi^ith decency : — 

And as your husband only kind of lent is — 

I'll be your second, if he's shot, Mrs. P ! 

XCVII. 
Woman, dear woman ! in thy sunny smiles 

We taste the purest bliss, nor wish for more ; 
Thy heavenly converse anxious care beguiles, 

And makes the cup of ecstacy run o'er, — 
But Oh, my fond heart ! thou art many miles 

From those transcendant ones, I half adore : 
I '11 yield my heart to their supreme control — 

For I do love them, body, heart and soul. 

XCVIII. 
Oh, might I nestle in some quiet place. 

Where this fond fluttering heart would be at rest I 
Where I could see some kind familiar face. 

Like an unmated dove share her warm nest ! 
Then twilight hours would not all run to waste, — 

But in sweet converse be entirely blest : 
The bliss, that Christian intercourse bestows ! 
The love, that on her sainted features glows! 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 49 

XCIX. 

For dear to me is female modesty, 

Hearts that can feel, and cheeks that oft do blush, 
Yet not with guilt ; eyes that can suffering see, 

As the warm tears from " feelings fount " do gush ! 
A model pure of filial piety : 

With love's warm kiss, a sister's cries doth hush. 
How thought of love the youthful bosom warms ! 
To hold heav'ns masterpiece within our arms ! 

C. 

Not to be welcome'd by some sylph-like form. 
In sickness for to comfort — health to tease^ 

Is for to be disconsolate — forlorn — 

Enduring pangs that man cannot appease ; — 

Some burning heart we would not, could not scorn, 
To plead for mercy on our bended knees ! 

Woman — thy potent charms what tongue can tell ? 

Though we have loved not " wisely, but too well ! " 

CI. 

Oh love ! first love ! with purest pleasure fraught — 
The selfish, proud and base, feel not thy flame ; — 

Whose bosom heaves with purity — each thought 
Glows with affection, virtuous and immane ; 

As if an angel in our arms we caught, 
And from her native heav'n did detain ! 

Some hasten to be angels from their birth ; 

And soar on high, to wean our hearts from earth. 
5* 



50 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

CII. 

Oh blest enchantment ! — let me linger here, 
Where sacred music does my heart rejoice ; 

Released from toil most arduous and severe, 
How sweet the tones of dearest woman's voice ! 

Shut out from wan anxiety, and fear, 

The world's vain bubble, its delirious noise. 

How fine the fibres of a sentient heart ? 

How glorious nature, when sublim'd by art ! 

CHI. 

But pleasure upon earth, how rare, how brief I 
For few and evil are our days below : 

And those loved ones that gave our hearts relief, 
Alas, how soon, are monuments of woe ! 

See this dear woman ! overcome with grief — 
And will not heav'n some cordial now bestow ? 

She lingers on the memory of her son, 

And Oh ! why not ? — he was her only one. 

CIV. 

Exalted matron — though in widow's weeds. 

Thou hast the charms that should be beauty's boast 

Thy works of love — those charitable deeds 
That never gain from vulgar lips the toast : 

For sufF'ring worth thy tender heart oft bleeds, 
And those who know thee best, love thee the most,-— 

But thou dost seek a brighter world to come — 

A pilgrim here, far from thy father's home. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 51 

cv. 

We'll wend our i^eet unto the place of sculls, 

Where there at least is true equality, 
Save in the monumental stone, that gulls 

The stranger, with unwonted eulogy ; 
And though there may be silence here, that lulls 

The senses, here I would not wish to lie ; — 
No tender heart to shed the burning tear — 
To stand in deepest sadness o'er my bier ! 

CVI. 

Almighty death ! how potent is thy sway ? 

How galling thoughts of thee to pompous pride ? 
Beauty lies here, 'twas hop'd would not decay — 

E'en in the honey-moon the lovely bride ; 
The stranger, who did chance here for to stray. 

With no intention long for to abide ; 
Here servants lie, those who are soon forget — 
Perhaps with them may be the happier lot. 

CVII. 

Death's open throat, how hard to be supplied ! 

Thou heedest not the tender infant's cry ! 
Nor those that have thy arrows long defied, 

As if they'd take some holi-day to dfe. 
When this world for a paradise they've tried, 

Hoping that earth could lasting peace supply : 
How insecure, how fragile is our breath, — 
'' Thou hast all seasons for thy own, Oh death ! " 



52 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

CVIII. 

Here lies the young, the mirthful, and the gay, 
The sons of pleasure, and the slaves of crime ; 

He whom the assassin's demon hand did slay, 
And many more the rigors of the clime ; 

And some the fruits of Southern Chivalry — 
I see the grave of one, the youthful Ryan.* 

What can this coward custom here restrain ? 

"These laughing stocks of devils, and of men." 



■* This young and modest looking man, who assumed a station for wh<ich 
by nature and habits he was disqualified, to wit, conducting a party news- 
paper 3 when but a few weeks at his post, fought a duel with the same 
" gentleman," (none but gentlemen fight duels !) who succeeded in killing 
him. Their feuds being irreconcilable, and pressed on by friends, the 
deadly meeting took place. Each being provided with several pistols, — 
the rules were to fire— then advance, till one should fall. " Earth to thy 
knees, and cry for mercy — cry ! " And this dreadful business is arranged 
with all the formality and system, that would become a v/edding. And 
hundreds of married men and youths, (professors of religion included ! !) 
cross the river to look on, some of them armed to the teeth, and drugged 
with rum — ripe for a quarrel. I have several times stood on the banks of 
the river as they passed over, and could scarce credit their murderous de- 
signs, till I heard the firing. If such a thing was perpretrated in Ho- 
boken, all JN^ew York would be excited, while here it is looked upon as a 
matter of course, the females scarce noticing it, never as J heard, in the 
way of censure ! And this is called honor ! 

The corse was carried to the house of one who had frequently tried to 
murder his fellow-man ; and as usual had a larger funeral, than probably 
would have followed a devoted minister to his grave. 

In Louisiana, duels are frequent ; — Senator Waggaman, Houston of the 
Baton Rouge Gazette, and many others having paid the forfeit. A friend 
who resided a few years in New Orleans, spake in this wise : — " I had 
often seen a fresh colored and remarkably good looking man, who kept 
a wine store ; I missed him — he had fallen in a duel ! He had seen many 
fight, whose livid countenances and agitated frames, told the emotions of 
the preceding night 3 and yet they must pass this^re of " Moloch," — 
sacrifice to the demon of custom. A French " gentleman/' having in- 
sulted a lady at the hotel he boarded at, he told the rascal he deserved a 
cowhiding. The fellow with his black eyes starting from his head, bel- 
lows, '' Suppose I challenge you, suppose you fight me ? " If he had 
been a coward he would have put " his life upon a throw, because this 
bear was rude and surly," in place of choking him a little. A friend of 
his of known courage, having offended a " parlex vous," he was sent a 
challenge by three bloods. On looking at it, he told them to bring the 
disaffected and he would flog the four of them with his fists ! Monsieurs 



A WALK ABOUT VlCESBURGH. 53 

CIX. 

He who has written, that " thou shalt not kill," 
Will he amerce the wrong 'd though guilty soul ? 

Did not thy fate thy soul with horror fill ? 

And would no thoughts of kindred thee control ? 

Swayed by revenge, which agonies instil, 
Inflaming wrath, while endless ages roll : — 

Custom oft makes the voice of conscience dumb ! — 

Justice pursues them in the world to come ! 

ex. 

And he the victor, whither shall he go 
To escape the curse of this most damning guilt? 

" A vagabond, to wander to and fro 

Upon the earth " — "A brother's blood he spilt 

Cries from the ground," in frightful tones of woe, 
And he go free ! — Yes, custom hath it gilt 

With names of honor — courage' — chivalry ! 

Thus they are prais'd, who're stain'd with infamy ! 



found they had came to the wrong shop and sloped ! A Frenchman, he 
observes, would sooner fight a duel, than drink a bottle of wine, or eat 
a frog ! — They abominate fisticuffs however. I'll give a specimen of a 
duel that took place nearly about the time of the first spoken of. — 
Having measured the ground, stripped themselves, and arranged prelimi- 
naries, directions being given, (there's nothing like science in killing a 
man,) their yagers on their shoulders, at the word ready, they were to 
hold their weapons perpendicular in the air 3 one being a "Novice,"' 
brought his yager down as if to fire, his opponent putting down the butt 
of his piece gruffly said, — "that makes a God damn'd sight of differ- 
ence ! " Things being re-arranged, the novice shot too quick and missed. 
The other taking good aim, shot him near the heart ! 'I'his gentleman, 
in anticipation of a duel some months back, had a flying Dutchman (a 
board the size and shape of a man,) hanging to a tree to practise on ! He 
also made his slave stand a distance off, and hold a potato between his 
fingers over his head, while he sent a ball through it I " Can these things 
be, and overcome us like a summer cloud, without our special wonder ? " 



54 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

CXI. 

Most wretched men, they know not what they do ! 

Fill'd with revenge, and most malignant hate; 
For conscience will the guilty wretch pursue, 

E'en in another and immortal state, 
Where they'll have time forever to review 

The wretchedness, their passions did create, 
And own the Christian rule — that to forgive 

Our enemies, is for to doubly live. 

CXII. 
For what is law, if pride's the arbiter ? 

If death must be for insult the award .'* 
If Christian actions fail for to confer 

On man respect, elicit their regard ? 
If ladies can a murderer prefer, * 

Their heartless smiles and welcome — his reward ! 
Must we resort to wrath and deadly strife ? 
Let's clothe in skins, and take the scalping knife ! 



* Prefer him to one of less influence, but more merit. That the ladies 
here generally favor duelling, I do not mean to assert ; but thai they wink 
at it, who will deny 1 That expression of countenance — that tenderness 
of heart — that seeming identity of interest — which would be felt and ex- 
pressed in New England, is uncommon here. You will see no groups at 
or after church, talking of the matter with smothered grief and indigna- 
tion ; but it is passed by with indifference, — so much so, that I often 
thought they regarded the murder of a man as a small affair, thinking 
there were plenty left. One reason of their insensibility is, the want of 
" brotherhood of feeling," that is peculiar to the /ar south. A stranger 
who enters a church in New England feels at home. He meets with a 
glance of recognition from bright eyes, and is not looked upon as a loafer, 
while he acts and looks like a gentleman. There is no straining to keep 
their eyes from him, or pulling up their garments if you happen to sit in 
a pew with them, as if you were infected, as I found at the Presbyterian 
church in Vicksburgh, Ail is nafttra/, sensible, affectionate, unconstrain- 
ed ; and many lovely faces furnish food for poetic raptures and warm 
emotions, though forever unknown to us. As many of the business men. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 55 

CXIII. 

Oh, damning custom ! — which rulest over law, 
Justice, and mercy, kindness, love, and truth ; 

Those whom the bonds of friendship firm should draw. 
In all the freshness, frankness of tlieir youth. 

Are killed, for words that would not be a straw 
To charity, yet edge a tiger's tooth ; 

The climate, female influence, agree 

With custom, to dignify barbarity ! 

CXIV. 

This blue stone yard belongs unto a clique, 
Th'at's called the mutual benefit society ; 



and most of the mechanics are bachelors, with no female relatives herey 
and board in houses where the lady does not show herself, they are without 
the pale ; and in temperance meetings are denounced and abused, with- 
out any interest being taken in their welfare, or apparently any desiie 
manifested for their conversion. This is very Christian and philosophical 
— very ! The wife of Col. observed, when spoken to of her hus- 
band, going to fight a duel, — she would rather be the vjidota of a brave 
man than the wife of a coward ! She would make a good squaw ! Anoth- 
er young lady refused a gent, because he did not resent an insult in a manly 
way ! Another sweet creature would not wed her intended, until he set- 
tled a difiSculty with an enemy, which she knevj would result in a duel. 
She might have known his determination, however, aud not wanting to be 
a widow as soon as wed, waited till he risked his immortal all on this 

fearful venture ! IIow different the wife of Gen. , of Philadelphia, 

a few years since, when she heard that her husband was about to fight a 
duel. She rose up with all a mother's heart, and infiluence, and majesty, 
and with a " voice potential," and a determination not to be misunder- 
stood, rebuked and stopped the murderous design. And who will dare 
call this gallant defender of his country a coward, for listening to the 
mother of his children 1 or deem this an undue stretch of female influ- 
ence 1 Shame on the female, (she has not the heart of a woman) who 
could abet or wink at this damning guilt ! Her epitaph should be written 
in blood 1 She should be tattoed like the New Zealander, that iier fright- 
ful visage might emblem faintly the malignity of her rotten heart! And 
the very d«gs should bark at her ! But we will hope for better things. 
There has been an anti-duelling society formed lately. May we hope that 
this is not the usual spasmodic effort of the head, but the healthy action of 
the heart. 



56 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

Here is an epitaph, almost* unique, — 

" He was honest" — I don't say 'tis a lie ; 

It would suit better chisseled in Greek, 

It would not then have shocked my modesty ! 

By way of antidote, or just for greens. 

They might have said, 'twas meant for the " marines." 

cxv. 

For honest men, like mermaids, I think rare, 
Or like black swans, they're very seldom seen ; 

Rogues should be labelled, that we might take care 
They could not come the "Yorkshire " o'er us keen; 

There are a few in these parts for to spare. 

If some stone building they would keep them in ! 

I knew one honest soul, a man of pith. 

His name I do remember well — John Smith ! 

CXVI. 

And here's a tomb, whom one that did not know. 
Would think contained an angel — a paragon 

Of excellence, pure as the Alpine snow. 
Which feet of man hath never trod upon ! 

But lapidary praise is here the go — 

I'll give the poetry, and then I'm done : — 

Last lines, — " In man place not your trust. 

The strongest liver is but dust." 



♦ There is one, at least, like it. Vide " Signers of the Declaration, 
Matthew Thornton. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 51 

CXVII. 

Now this was meant for sense, or poetry, 

Though some poetic souls might think it neither ; 

I've known a daring genius soar as high, 
Extemporaneous — when taking ether ! 

His maudlin muse, perhaps, was very dry, 

Or in hot whiskey punch the fellow seeth'd her; 

But this would granny Reilly much surprise — 

Iriland, spelt by a Pat with two IPs! 

CXVIII. 

Here's a small yard, dress 'd, as it were, in mourning, 
Though roses in the interior fresh do bloom ; 

The child's and mother's resting-place adorning. 
Who share one vault — can it be called a tomb ? 

Her body here is kept, to him a warning 

That death his second wife may have full soon ! 

How strange to keep her corse from out the ground. 

When the freed spirit hovers us around. 

CXIX. 

Here, see ! a monument to the unknown. 

Though some here know his melancholy fate ; 

A cumbrous pile, no trace upon the stone 
To give his name, profession, or the date 

Of his decease, unflattered and alone. 
Though lapidaries often make men great : 

Perhaps 'twas meant this incongruity 

Would give his memory perpetuity. 



68 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

cxx. 

We'll enter, for the bell hath ceased its hum, 
Although the congregation seems quite thin ; 

The hymn is over, and the prayer begun. 

And yet the " Campbells " they come rushing in, — 

The prayer is ended, still some stragglers come, 
Sick of good breeding, if not sick of sin ! 

But it would be as well to shut my mouth ; 

I'm not in New England — I'm down south ! 

CXXI. 

What ails the sexton ? for his heart seems breaking 
With deepest anguish, not the effect of fear ; 

His crime how dreadful ! for he had been taking. 
Without his master's leave, one he called dear ; 

And so his collar bone he was for breaking, * 
Which Christians north would think was quite severe ; 

Strive hard to get to heaven, by faith and prayer. 

You'll have no fear to meet your master there ! 

CXXII. 
He has not lost his standing in the church — 

I think one awful day he'll lose his footing, 
That is, be left forever in the lurch. 

The boot long faced on the other leg be putting ! 



* It was mean and malignant enough, one would think, for a professed 
Christian to shoot and cripple his slave for disobedience, without insult- 
ing citizens, (I knew some who would not enter the church on that ac- 
count,) by thrusting the poor fellow, with his arm tied up in a sling, be- 
fore them as sexton ©f the church. The man who could do this thing has 
no more sensibility than a brute ! and I hesitate not to say, is " a chosen 
villain at heart, and capable of deeds that durst not seek repentance." 



A WALK ABOUT VICSK«BURGH. 59 

Though he may feel that cutting and recherche, 

While devils damned, univocal are hooting ; 
For, 'tis with men as with a guilty nation, 
Some actions seal their deathless reprobation, 

CXXIII. 

Some south grow fat on inhumanity ; 

Seem made to curse themselves, and others curse, 
Have banished honor with urbanity, 

And do the Savior's golden rule reverse ; 
And if they murder, why, it's called insanity ! 

The jury look not at their crimes, but purse ; 
Old Hosea Ballou would make a poor fist. 
To turn this traveller — Universalist ! 

CXXIV. 

The man of God ! — how solemn and serene, 

Calm, practical and argumentative ; 
Who strips the heart from error's selfish screen, 

And bids the sinner but believe and live ; 
Would fain the heart from worldly pleasures wean, 

And, as a friend and brother, all receive. 
I'd rather kneel to kiss a good man's hand, 
Than court the useless wealthy of the land. 

cxxv. 

For he's a Christian gentleman — not bred 
In folly's lap — ambition's vulgar school — 

By no sectarian prejudices led ; 

Nor " wise in his conceit," a hopeless fool ; 



60 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

A tender heart, an intellectual head, 

God's holy word his study and his rule ; 
Whose bright example hath a potent sway — 
Courteous and kind, the Christian scholar — Gray. 

CXXVI. 

E'en impudence and pride respect the good ; 

Those who adorn the holy ministry — 
Who feed their waiting flock with spiritual food, 

And have a holy, Christ-like charity ; 
Who have among the faithless, faithful stood, 

From fear, from favor, and from mammon free : 
True piety's restricted to no clime. 
Benevolent — diffusive — chaste — divine I 

CXXVII. 

There's a few matrons here, that I do like, 
So unobtrusive, modest, gentle, meek, 

And quiet spirits ; Alas ! how much unlike 

Those giddy things, whose dress their minds bespeak, 

And who the shallow fop with wonder strike ! 
I've sigh'd to kiss at least one widow's cheek : 

My heart has daguereotyp^d some forms below. 

Which, seen in heaven, I instantly would know ! 

CXXVIII. 
'Tw'as here I listened to the able Hunt, 

Who is a " host " on total abstinence ! 
A comprehensive mind, witty, though blunt, 

He gave some bloated rumheads here offence ; 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 61 

They hired a hick-or-ey animal to grunt ; 

Paid him juleps for his base defence : 
Friend Hunt did skin this animal quite famous, — 
He'd pierced him, if he'd been a hippopotamus ! 

CXXIX. 

Great patriot, philanthropist, and sage, 

The pray'rs of many Christians rise for thee ! 

Thou dost not fear the impuissant rage 
Of those who glory in their infamy ; 

Thou can'st the dragon in his den engage, 

And with the sword of truth he'll vanquish'd be : 

By-the-by, friend Hunt, I'm anxious for to know 

When you will have that fellow for a show !* 

cxxx. 

'Twas here they had a furious, hot debate, 

Somewhat one-sided, but they took the vote — 

" If counterfeiters they should lower rate. 
Than the deviVs agent, him who made the bloat ; " 

They back'd the forger, though some liquor hate, 
And slyly pour the vinous down their throat ! 

If they had made it bad as negro stealing", P^g"- 

There would have been some swinging, and some squeal- 



* Thai most successful, and, to my mind, able and comprehensive lec- 
turer on total abstinence, while lecturing here, was grossly slandered by 
the " organ " of the rumheads. A friend of mine knew of a clique who 
intended to lynch him. Those who heard his reply to the " Captain," 
will admit that Sheridan himself could not have used him up better. Hap- 
pily Mr. Hunt had " ali the decency" with him. He remarked, among a 
thousand things "racy and new," thae he expected soon to have the last 
rumseller, and take him around the country for a show 1 
6^ 



62 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

CXXXI. 

What is the virtue of coercive law, 

When public sentiment's the law behind ? 

For duels here, a Judge will often draw, 
As if the laws were not for them design'd ; 

Some cut-throats think a kind of Johnny Raw, 
Whom it were better for to kill than bind : 

Lenient to murderers — to servants cruel ; * 

*' Consistency," — thou art indeed " a jewel ! " 



* The ease with which a murderer escapes the halter here, if he has 
monej; is proverbial. But let a poor slave be guilty of a theft, and wo un- 
to him! A friend of mine saw a runaway who could not be restrained 
from stealing, led through Jackson, (the capital,) his hands tied, followed 
by two-legged bloodhounds — some of them drunk — beating him with 
canes, guns, &c., till they got him a short distance from the city, where 
they deliberately shot him as if he had been a dog! A lady died a short 
time since in Vicksburgh, leaving an aged servant, over sixty-three years 
of age. He was very large and fleshy, and was well known, having served 
the market with vegetables for many years, making a small fortune for his 
mistress. Her executor, a long-faced Methodist, hired him out to a plant- 
er. Being unused to such hard work, he became sick, and came into 
town to see the executor, who is a physician ; not finding him, he lay 
down to rest in the market-house. The overseer soon missed him, and 
having found him, put a rope round his neck, dragged and whipped him to 
the next plantation, some three miles out, — when there, tied him up with 
a chain, and whipped him horribly. In the morning he was dead ! The 
papers merely stated that " he had choked himself." There was a little 
buzzing about the matter with some who had known the servant for years, 
but it was soon hushed. The overseer probably paid him a few dollars for 
killing him. How hard, when a servant has wasted his best days in work- 
ing for his owners, — when they die, he must be hired to a taskmaster, and 
toil unceasing till he drops in the grave ! A southerner told me of a like 
circumstance that happened in the interior. An overseer was on trial for 
causing the death of a slave, by beating him on the head with a whip. He 
was one of the jury. Some thirty overseers had assembled with loaded 
whips, pistols, &-C. He said they were intimidated 5 but the physician re- 
lieved them by stating that his death was caused by " congestion of the 
brain ! " The jury knew the primary cause to be beating with the butt of 
the whip. A planter exposed his boy all night naked to the mercy of the 
mosquitoes, to punish him for some trivial act. In the morning he was 
dead ! Wliat of that ? A southerner would say, he is his property ! But 
the idea that forces itself on my mind is this, — how can such things take 
place under the eyes of hoys and young men, (ladies south never see any 
of these things,) without demoralizing them 1 The notion that ihere is 
any law for slaves, (excepting so far as some influential person advocates 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 63 

CXXXII. 
Here sits a gent, he's in the hardware line — 

By a coquettish damsel he was peeVd ; 
He thought the heartless beauty half divine — 

Her charms his " beau ideal" all reveal'd . 
Opposed by gold, he could no longer shine ; 

And the " forsaken's" doom, of course, was seal'd ! 
You might have wed, my friend, ten years ago ; 
Your second wife you might have had, I trow ! 

cxxxni. 

A bachelor T seldom do respect ; 

Though there are many here I do excuse, 
If they affected misses do reject — 

Who never will a moneyed man refuse — 
The want of heart is the supreme defect — 

The difficulty is the who to choose : 
A £gw oi^ nature's belles, from England's isle, 
Would light some hearts with love's effulgent smile. 

CXXXIV. 

And here's a gentleman,* whom if I knew 
Not, I would think a " second Daniel," — 



their cause,) is a falsehood. Is it strange that many cry out against the 
whole system, while cruelties are, or must be, winked at by the conserva- 
tors of the laws '? Is it through fear that these things are not denounced 
from the pulpit ? I can believe what one brought up in slavery, (a mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian church in Memphis,) told me, — that he believed 
the institution of slavery would be the means of sending more to hell than 
any other scheme of Satan, — for it begat a domineering spirit, inimical to 
the spirit of Christ 3 and, without extra, peculiar, and perpetual vigilance, 
it would harden the heart. 

^ It is rare to find a Virginian, south, who is not a gentleman. The 
majority of those who abuse their negroes, are poor devils from the 
barrens of North Carolina, or the other side of sundown, — where the light 
of the '' schoolmaster " is rarely seen ! 



64 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

Would take him for a sample of that crew, 

That scourg'd and crucified, the blest Immanuel: 

He thinks all servants are, or should be true, 
And fawn upon their master, like a spaniel. 

He sent his boy afar to see his kin. 

And wonderful — he came quickly back again 

cxxxv. 

In spite of abolition knavery, 

Which could not from his fealty lure away : 
Not thinking, though he be wed to slavery, 

There's many do not wish in bonds to stay ; — 
Perhaps their victuals are not cooked so savory — 

Or in half life time they do want some pay ! 
But all pro-slavery tenets are delusion ;* 
I mean now days, premises and conclusion. 

*This highly respected citizen, who gave his boy money and a "pass," 
to see his people in Virginia, — on the boy's safe return, wrote (perhaps it 
was editorial,) a piece headed, I think, — " A nut for the Abolitionists,''* — 
remarking that they had tried in vain to persuade his slave away, &c.— 
As this was a curious argument for slavery, I could not help but notice it, 
especially as I formerly had some yellow men under my charge, who 
would give a large fortune to be free — if they had it. And what is. the 
argument ? This slave loves his master, (being a good servant, and not 
hard worked,) and of course all others do — there's logic for you ! The 
poor fellow don't know how long before he will have a 7iew master — and 
most probably would like to stay in Virginia if he could. One of the worst 
features of slavery, is the hiring system 5 and though there are many who 
are better in bonds than if they were free, there are numerous white ones 
who would like to own their oio7i carcase ! A gentleman, a resident of 
New Orleans, told me of a pretty woman who had frequently run away — 
but was always caught. Her master keeps her in the calaboose, (I think 
pays her board,) from year to year, for the crime of being too ^vhite to be 
trusted out ! An acquaintance was much amused in Charleston, S. C. by 
a trial of a man for kidnapping — i. e. trying to sell a white man. The 
man was white sure enough ! — but the " Autocrat," brought forth his 
parchments to prove, — that his mother's great-grand-mother's wife's cat's 
aunt, had looked at a slave when she was pregnant 5 and this was the same 
" old coon," that was born at that time! My friend sloped to save his 
bacon I There is a curious case on the tapis at Memphis, Tenn. of two 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 65 

CXXXVI. 

The car of Liberty is rolling on ! 

They must be crush'd, or keep from off the track ! 
For the millennial day will shortly dawn — 

And the poor Ethiop will a master lack ; 
His manacles and shackles, all be gone, — 

Nor can a Texian army bring them back ; 
Nor Carolina's far fam'd doughty son, 
The valiant — the pot-valiant Hamilton ! 

CXXXVII. 

You've read his letter, doubtless, to McDuffie, 
Wherein he waxes hot for annexation ! 

Denounces Webster, and tries to stuff ye, 
That this will be the Union's salvation ! 

Now him and Mac, are very hard on cuffie ; 
Like Richard, sticklers for amalgamation ; — 

But read the letter of the immortal Clay ! 

And you will find these cobwebs brush'd away. 

cxxxvni. 

Some southern gentlemen would have us think, 
That slavery is our country's greatest boon ! 



brothers, merchants, — one contending that his brother, who is a shade 
darker than himself, is the son ofa mulatto slave, and not the true grit ! — 
The other .(who I believe is the smartest man,) successfully opposing him. 
This case has been in law a long time, and considerable property is in- 
volved in the issue. I know not that it has been decided yet. A friend 
saw a beautiful mulatto, and white child, sold to an ugly old Frenchman, 
at the same time a lad who was whiter than himself, was sold to a mer- 
chant for two hundred dollars, — who toid him, if he was dutiful for one 
year, he should have his liberty. Will not some second D'Israeli, or the 
author of the " Dutchman's Fireside," give us a new volume entitled the 
" curiosities of slavery I " here is more laurels for some one ! 



66 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

Where Washington and Franklin, smell'd a stink, 
Their nostrils to exhale a sweet perfume ! 

If you oppose them, the country's on the brink 
Of bankruptcy, — and slavery ! — and ruin. 

Some southern statesmen deem themselves quite wise — 

While freemen north, their croakings do despise, 

CXXXIX 

If slavery is a blessing to mankind, 

Why don't some southern lyre sound forth its praise ? 
Alas ! Alas ! poetic hearts, would find 

Naught to inspire, in such degrading lays ! 
A wreathe of hemp would suit his brows to bind — 

Or in a mad-house, he might spend his days ! — 
Hell-born — degrading — tyrannous — and vile ; 
Curse to the land, which owns Jehovah's smile. 

CXL. 
Here, see, the prince of asses, an old gawk ! * 

IM take him for a miller, by his coat 
He does essay, but 'tis in vain to talk ; 

Though he can swear and gabber, as by note, — 
I once had thought the blackguard for to balk : 

His cursing amongst females did denote 
His breeding, — but some have this obliquity ; — 
And live to fill their measure of iniquity ! 



* On coming from Clinton to Vicksburgh, on the railroad, in a large 
car, with a dozen or more females, this personage commenced with a 
string of vulgarity, obscenity and falsehood, the filthiest and most insult- 
ing — taking gestures, voice and manner together ; that it had been my lot 
to endure, (for I could not leave the car,) save a deck passage 1 took from 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 6T 

CXLI. 

A dapper man whose likely fond of chowder, 
Judging like fortune-tellers by his name ; 

A taste for painting, but don't make him prouder. 
He often paints for money, not for fame. 

On politics, and nonsense he talks louder 

Than most men — in "councils" he's somewhat tame, 

I laugh when to the paper I do turn. 

At the stereotype, — /move this board adjourn ! 

CXLII. 

Here's a mustachioed dandy — quite a beau ! 

A would-be gentleman without the means ; 
This is a species of the Kangaroo, 

That thrives in Cuba, France, and New Orleans ? 



Louisville to St. Louis. A description of which I wrote to a friend in 
Vicksburgh, the following being the concluding lines of a stanza : — 

" Of all things — ^base, ill, or reprehensible 3 

This made me feel a ' hell on earth/ most sensible ! " 

He commenced his conversation with a history of his sickness, vomit- 
ing, taking gruel, &c. very interesting : but his forte lay in damning the 
missionaries, they raised funds to gamble on steamboats, «&sc. (judging 
them by himself.) They were damn'd rascals in general, — fond of other 
men's wives, &c. I don't wonder a man should lose his voice, (he has 
a kind of grunt,) who is such a vocabulary of ribaldry and blasphemy. — . 
Perhaps he is striving for the crown (of swearer Laariet,) from the " Prince 
of darkness." But if a man is a blackguard, why not have a decent respect 
for the feelings of others — for women are not the most sensitive in these 
things, (they are always /a^seZ?/ judged by their sex, and not by their sensi- 
bility.) One reason is, it is no disgrace to swear before ladies, if you have 
the monish ! morals are comparatively of small moment 5 besides it is 
somewhat fashionable. I observed, to a gentleman present, Dr. W. L. 
Balfour, of Madison Co., that the thing ought to be put out, — he replied, 

he was your great Whig , high in office. If I had had a female 

with me, I should have insulted the nuisance. What different estimates 
men make of manliness 1 



68 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

For honesty and courage, about so, so, — 

They live on calf-head, goat-soup, and horse beans! 
Mustache, some think an honor, others a rule 
To judge a man of gumption — from a fool ! 

CXLIII. 
Here comes my '' partner," rather tall and slim. 

Though few like him are always full of mud ! 
One reason to my mind why he's so thin, — 

Worse than a jack-ass, he will chew the cud : 
He learned 'tis true, this negro practise in 

Louisville, for he's of Kentuck blood. 
He's his wife's third, I think it is a sin, 
If she puts not this tray — a mud hole in ! 

CXLIV. 

He cheated me, and might with him is right ! 

He'll keep the money truly if he can 
From one who is not very apt to fight, — 

'Tis burned into his features a mean man ! 
Though some do think the sneak, is only tight 

In money matters ; — he for Marshall ran : 
Pity he did not get the office then — 
" A rogue, to catch a rogue ! " he has the ken. 

CXLV. 

But ev'ry dog, of course, must have his day. 
Two legs, or four, the world indeed is wide ; 

A settling of accounts, will not delay — 
A reckoning which the bully must abide — 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 69 

And braggart ass, will dare not to gainsay, _ 

Though he on earth for filthy lucre lied. 
The honest heart with pleasure there will swell ! 
While meanness shrinks into her native hell. 

CXLVI. 

How doubly mean is base ingratitude — * 
Men who are selfish in their ev'ry act ; 

A toad-eating spirit, and who are endued 
With Vidocq's subtilty — Apolyon's tact ; — 

As if from out of filth, the spawn was spew'd 
By some anadrodjena — or cataract ! 

And by some second Doctor Faustus's sense — 

Live on the fat and blood of innocence. 

CXLVII. 

For mud with merit, fain would run a race ; 

His dirty banner, see — 'tis now unfurl'd ! 
But merit doth disdain the filthy chase, — 

His lips with pain and virtuous scorn are curl'd : 
He leaves to fawning meanness, pomp and place — 

The sycophantic friendship of the world, 
And lives a holier life, in solitude 
Of heart, than mix'd with mammon's viperous brood. 



* I expunge here a very long note, not wishing to dwell on a personal 
difficulty 3 but to describe a thing who would cheat and insult a decent 
man, though he would be honest with a rumhead, for fear of a flogging. — 
Will not some plasterer send me a cast of this fellow's head'? — I want to 
study Phrenology this winter ! 



70 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGII. 

CXLVIII. 

How high the aspirhigs of a noble mind ? 

Above all selfishness ; nor vain with praise : 
Not coward custom can his spirit bind ; 

Immortal virtue, crowns him with her bays ! 
For joy, and peace, the pure in heart shall find, 

Those who do walk in wisdom's pleasant ways ; 
They have within their breasts a feast of joy. 
An angelic shield — when brutes their peace annoy. 

CXLIX. 
Here comes my friend, his open hand extended ? 

Like a chaste maid, his heart glows in his eyes ! 
Which tells his friendship is not all pretended ; 

Within his breast the warm affections rise ! 
Virginia's son, a stranger has befriended — 

And friendship with the noble, never dies. 
Two noblemen, in this mean place I met ; 
Which this fond heart can never once forget. 

CL. 

He has a most aristocratic smile ! 

That light'ning flash acrost the mouths right angle, 
That some do try to show, but still the while 

It is an awkward grin — they do it mangle ! — 
His lips, like mine, do not the girls defile 

With serpent juice, his speech does ofl entangle 
The pretty girls, and catch them in love's snares; 
But he don't like those starch'd up southern airs. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 71 

CLI. 

A mutual chum, — but he's been salivated, 
Judging the covey by the way he splutters ! 

His mouth half open — as if he hated 
The stinking waters, when he cross'd the gutters. 

His genius is below zero rated ! — 

He seldom speaks in English but he mutters ! — 

He's from the land of wooden onion seed — 

A shanks-mare galloping, Velocipede ! 

CLII. 

The sun has barely set, and yet 'tis night ! 

And though not wearied I must homeward tramp ; 
Or some scar'd runaway, may me affright ; 

And southern evenings, are impure and damp, 
As if 'gainst scorching suns to show their spite : 

And for my guide, there is no public lamp. 
Well, if I am not by some bull dog bitten ; 
I'll go to bed, and muse on what I've written ! 

CLIII. 

I love the freshness of the early morn. 

To take a shower bath in mint spring cascade : 

The ladies here, I find the day break scorn — 
From the plain matron, to the plainer maid ! 

The men are up, and ready for a horn ; 
One gunsmith, a few of the mason trade. 

A lame one here, the market people plagues, — 

This sucker, sucks at once six dozen eggs ! 



72 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH, 

CLIV. 

The market here, I surely must describe; — 

The Mayor's aloft, he's ex-officio 
President, chairman, secretary, and scribe ; 

Savans and servants, go it down below : 
They buzz like bees around an open hive. 

While some are carrying burdens, to and fro. 
In rainy days, they're apt to get the blues, — 
Not that they lose their temper, but their shoes ! 

CLV. 

The ladies ! I must mention them again, — 
They lie in bed, and dreaming hug the sheet ! 

Their better half, does steer through mud and rain, 
To get the pretty dear's some dainty meat. 

The servants cannot very much complain. 
They have old ned, and dodgers for to eat. 

Speaking of living, I would merely say, 

I did not live down south — I did but stay ! 

CLVI. 

The butchers here, as elsewhere take it easy, 
That is, when they have customers enough, — 

Fat, boisterous, impudent, and greasy. 

And like their beefsteak, most extremely tough ! 

No odds for that, they will demand the specie ; 
And stint you in the weight, if you look gruff ! 

But though they seem to live such murderous lives, 

In all the States, the most have pretty wives. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 73 

CLVII. 

Here is a fellow, with a head and chin, 

I think would not disgrace Sir Walter Scott ! 

I do suspect, the creature is some kin 
To the " liberator man," I don't know what ! 

For some that know, do say it is a sin 
To Crocket — what an organ he has got 

Of philoprogenitiveness !* it's so elated. 

It has his very visage — elongated ! 

CLYIII. 

For this thing they call amalgamation, f 
'Tis somewhat common here for to pursue ! 

The mass of men, from ev'ry clime and nation. 
Think when in Rome, they'll do as Romans do ; 

And deem it natural, when one generation 
Of slaves are gone, for to create a new ! — 

And that's the way they always do succeed. 

In southern fashion — for to cross the breed ! 

* I speak poetically — not phrenologically. 

t It must be laughable to southern ladies, to read the frequent denun- 
ciations of this thing in their papers, while there are so many pledges 
squalling around them 3 and when they know that a good looking yellow 
girl rarely, or never, escapes pollution — even if married. It is next to 
impossible for single men to be chaste here, such is the climate. But why 
try to saddle this thing on the north, when the south is the hot bed of it ? 
But northeners and strangers are all alike in this matter ! And many 
buy good looking girls for their pleasure. I do not blame the ladies for 
winking at this thing — many would have to remain single if they were 
squeamish. But I think it is brutality for a man to club his servant, be- 
cause she does not want to leave him on account of his marriage. Or for 
a gentleman to call in the aid of the police to take his " Rose " to jail as 
he has tired of her, — though she had saved his life by careful nursing, 
when he had the yellow fever. Slavery and ingratitude are twins ! Doc- 
tor M left here for Virginia, selling his pretty servant and two 

white children 3 but as he had no family by his wife, 1 excuse him ! A 
7* 



74 A WALK AI^OUT VICKSBURGII. 

CLIX. 

In the free north, though it exceeds belief, 

To walk with blacks, you might as well be dead, - 

Some bold seducer — vagabond — or thief — 
Would hurl a brickbat swiftly at your head, 

Though you were listening to a tale of grief ; — 
While here, they sleep all night in the same bed ! 

And, northern mobites, think not I lie to thee ; • 

Go Mhere you never smelt — in good society ! 



CLX. 
Here, see a mixture of base mud and grease, 

A large sized doll, she dresses very fine ! 
From prudence, and good sense, she's ta'en a lease 

Her smiles, her nods, her coquetry the sign 



friend done some Avork for a lawyer in the country — he married an amiable 
lady who knew he had two children by a servant — this servant lived in a 
separate house. — but he returned to his first love ; and his wife spurned 
him from her as a dog. thousih she had even t'ondled his young brunettes. 
I knew a Col.H ^near ^Memphis. Tcnn. who was engaged to be mar- 
ried; his intended hearing he was increasing his stock, refused him. 1 met 
liim on his way to New Orleans, with his pretty servant, big with child — 
to sell her ! How few men there are. take them on the voluntary princi- 
ples, and not fetter them by laws, that have true honesty, or nobility of 
soul? How many that requite tlve ailection of their servants with "the 
blackest ingratitude. I had written a long note on this subject, but add 
only these items, to show the nonsense and mendacity of the southern 
press, on this subject. Some planters prefer yellow women, if they 
treat them as wives. I have nothing to say. 1 have known some who 

sent their children to Europe to be educated. One Col. G takes 

his beautiful and bright mulatto, in the cabin of the steamboat when he 
travels ; and being a fighting man. and somewliat wealtliy, few oppose 
him. It is a sight to see the pretty mulattoos in Huntsville, Alaban\a ! It 
is not going to far to say, that the ladies axe jealous otten of the attention 
paid to them ! I w as somewhat astonished at the result of a protracted 
meeting here, which lasted near a fortnight — conducted by one of tlie 
most devoted and zealous divines of the present day. Out of hundreds 
of young men there were no accessions : Why 1 — JMost single men here 
own female servants. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 75 

She has no heart ; I trust she now will cease 

To run her gay " accommodation line." 
A thing, who has her dainty carcase sold 
Unto a mummy ! — for his bones — and gold. 

CLXI. 

I wonder, how the dear can sleep at night ? 

To hug a rotten stump — a gouty stock — 
And such a ghostly visage, 'twould affright 

A bull — without the paralytic shock ! 
And she can press his shrivell'd neck quite tight, 

And with deceitful kisses, love can mock ; 
Drinking the breath of the octogenarean — 
Rise in the morning, for to take an airing, 

CLXII. 

Of all I can conceive of human ties. 

There's none I look upon with deeper hate : 

Repulsive beings — love's affinities ! 
And yet some deem it is legitimate, — 

Though one the heartless beauty must despise. 
But Oh ! she is his voluntary mate. 

Yet mammas all, will not with me agree ; — 

'Tis what I call — a moral felode see ! 

CLXIII, 

She would, I doubt not, her sweet body sell, 
If 'twas the law, to one quite black and sooty ! 

And her hig heart, with pride would seem to swell ; 
I mean, of course, if Sambo had the booty ! 



76 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

His breath would certainly no worser smell ! 
And for to love him, it would be her duty. 
Some, who have been long years venerealiz^d, 
Have caught these things, as honey catches flies. 

CLXIV. 

For they are common, the wide world over — 
Sometimes they are compell'd, or ma's enrag'd — 

But this one done it, for to live in clover ! 
A pretty bird, within a harem cag'd, 

Sighing, and simpering, for another lover, 
As her affections are quite disengag'd ! 

And let the aged lecher, chance to die — 

How many musheads, for her heart would sigh ! 

CLXV. 

How prone we are to judge by the outside, 
As if a beauteous form was virtue's guest ? 

Or if a selfish, and deceitful bride. 

Were pure, though laws their plight'd faith attest ? 

But who, some ask, shall on this case" decide, 
Where there is not pollution, and incest ? 

Well there's the rub, but as the thing was recent, 

It struck me as consummately indecent ! 

CLXVI. 

See the theatre ! looks like an old barn, — 
This place the ladies love to patronize ; 

That ladies here should think there was no harm 
In their uproarous mirth, does not surprise : 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 77 

The very timid sit without alarm, 

Though oft in church they like a veil's disguise ; 
And hide their tallow faces, to enhance 
Their modest beauty in the midnight dance. 

CLXVII. 

For ladies south at the theatre shine; * 

And fops a beauty by apparel prize ; 
A costless dress, silk scarf, a gold lepine, 

And diamond ring ; she's lauded to the skies ! 



* The comparatively large numbers, who attend theatres and balls here, 
to the northern cities, is remarkable. During Henry Clay's visit to Mem- 
phis, Tenn., a large portion of the members of a certain church vs^ere anx- 
ious to go to the ball, and bothered the pastor greatly with questions. I 
think he let them have their own way. At an anniversary of the Bible 
Society in Vicksburgh, on a fine evening, attended by four divines, there 
were less than a dozen members, I was much surprised, as the speakers 
were uncommonly animated and eloquent. On going homeward, I found 
that Yankee Hill was reciting his comicalities to a crowded house, (South- 
ern's Hall.) A foreign vocalist made several hundred dollars a night, by 
singing the " Gambler's Song " here ; while it seemed impossible to raise 
three hundred dollars to establish a depot for the sale of Bibles. A few 
miles in the interior it is entirely different, and many good people find it 
difficult to attend night meetings. But are there no anti-duelling, anti- 
throwing-money-away, and pious females, here? Yes 3 but their society 
is not prized by the fashion : and, for various reasons, their influence is 
extremely limited. One reason of the scarcity of intelligent and devoted- 
ly pious (women,) feio "ladies" have any piety, doubtless is, because 
they are not appreciated. If a female should wilfully absent herself from 
the amusements and recreations of polite society, she would be looked 
upon as a tame and simple creature, unless she had strength of mind and 
energy of character to make her influence felt far and wide. We hear so 
much of the sunny south, and yet how little romance and poetry there is 
in the composition of the ladies. For my own part, I think there is some- 
thing in a southern climate incongenial to virtue. Whether it is the mos- 
quitoes, or the '^ institution," that spoils your temper, — or the perpetual 
summer, that excites to lust, or disposes to indolence, — or the want of lec- 
tures, reading rooms, &c., for the " many," — and, above all, for the want 
of females, i, e. of social and affectionate beings, — T cannot determine. 
For take a good Methodist from New England, and place him here, in a 
few years he will be apt to turn rascal. — " Oh, that horrid hole ! " 



78 A WALK ABOUT VICKSEURGH. 

The laurel wreath their taper fingers twine 

For actresses, whose cheeks a blush defies ; 
To whom there is such mark'd attention paid, 
As if, without them, they would retrograde ! 

CLXVIII. 
Sometimes the ladies know not what to do, 

Or where to go, in search of novelty ; 
Then they are quite overcome with ennui. 

Till comes a gala day or jubilee. 
Or what they call down south a barbecue, — 

Half-roasted hog, and half enough — all free ; 
After the eating, then does come the fun — 
A " bran dance ! " — saw-dust the ground upon. 

CLXIX. 

Doctors and lawyers there you'll see as thick 
As blackberries — Judges, full a score — 

Colonels, as many as you can shake a stick 
Well at — with Majors — line the ground all o'er- 

Some Editors, who are on the trigger quick — 
With Class Leaders, I think only three or four — 

And of the genus Loaferandi, 

A few the ladies smile on, quite the dandy ! 

CLXX. 

This is a bevy, a prodigious troop 

To dance together, or at once to mess ; 

But see, they go it in a smaller group. 

Where they form squads, but do not coalesce ! 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH, 79 

For ladies, you must know, can never stoop 

To see a working-man — ' twould her distress ! 
Though few industrious, smart, and honest come, 
The most to see the sport, and drink the rum. 

CLXXI. 

Oh, do but see them ! — what a pretty row ! 

The music's playing — now they do their best ; 
There, he's upon her " light fantastic toe," 

Or rather on her corn ! — now she must rest ; 
Watch how they quiver, shiver to and fro — 

They do not look so amorous as Celeste ! 
Well, I should think that this would jerk their tripe — 
See ! see ! her hand — I'm sure she's got the gripe. 

CLXXII. 

There's one upon the rostrum — he's a Judge ; 

He goes against the bonds, and a high tariff. 
And a little of every thing — all fudge — 

And they must have Calhoun president, — if 
They can get him ! here a whig does him nudge — 

Van-Buren is too small, and Clay too stiff 
In his opinions ! out upon the bore — 
Such premeditated nonsense he does pour. 

CLXXIII. 
Hear him ! — he is a true republican ; 

He never turn'd his coat, nor never lied ; 
His father was a revolutionary son ; 

But a great pity he so early died. 



80 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

He stepp'd into the breeches, then, of one 
Who had the people always on his side ; 
And flogg'd the banks, and British aristocracy — 
The great — *' unterrified democracy ! " 

CLXXIV. 
He's of the JefTersonian, true succession ! 

Although he cannot go for little Marty, 
Who fell from favor by one great transgression ; 

He's for the nominations, true and hearty — 
Repudiation ; — Texas, or secession ! 

We're for the country ; Clay is for a party ; 
And if he's chosen president to vex us, 
We'll go like Crockett — or to hell, or Texas ! * 

CLXXV. 

On with the dance, both Creole and brunette ; 

You're out of town, of course you want no mask ! 
The graceful danseuse, and the pert coquette, 

Do deem this exercise an easy task ; 
There's one has danc'd until her bosom's wet — 

She'll dance again, if dollars should her ask I 
Well, it is time for to be going now ; 
I calculate, they'll break up in a row ! 



* This very foolish, though brave and witty man, soon after his arrival in 
Texas, had a dinner given him. After being toasted, he made a speech, the 
conclusion of which was, — 1 was studying where to go, and concluded 1 
would either go to hell, or come to Texas ! Query — might not a man go 
to both places at once ? 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 81 

CLXXVI. 

Well, here is a caution ; hold — hold — Macduff ! * 

A naked, natural, tobacco sign ! 
His stomach, like a bladder full of snuff — 

His legs, well fitted up a post to climb — 
In features, quite baboonish enough — 

Though rather large, his age is over nine ! 
The public roads are with these beauties grac'd, 
For 'tis a part of Mississippi taste. 

CLXxvn. 

This is a stripling fire-arms for to handle — | 

He is a shot, he very seldom miss'd, 
At twenty yards, a snuffing of a candle : 

He may be call'd an embryo duelist, — 



* A friend of mine, journeyin5 in the interior, met a boy some ten or 
twelve years old, and being rather modest, (I believe there is more genu- 
ine modesty and sensibility in men than in women,) as some ladies were 
riding by, he felt ashamed ; but was much surprised to find they did not 
notice it. f despise mock modesty ; but the notion of blacks^ from two to 
sis or eight years of age, running about with white girls as I have seen, 
was one of those imxplicables which " killed me dead " in relation to the 
far south ! I confess, from a certain freshness of sensibility, which time 
cannot subdue, and not mixing much in society, I may be hypercritical; 
and things present themselves with such vividness and force to my mind, 
that the bare mention of them may seem satirical. Few south will dispute 
my facts in the main, though they may deem me unfair, partial, splenetic, 
and insulting. For it seems impossible with some to say any thing against 
slavery without being an abolitionist — any thing against the foolish cus- 
toms, ideas of honor, gentility, &c., and a hundred otiier things that ob- 
tain in a community, — without offending the mass. Some will attribute 
my remarks to disappointment, in not getting into certain society, &c. 
Such is not the fact. If I have any peculiar characteristic, it is a love of 
truth; and though I have laughed more over these stanzas than some 
south will, I have had no malicious desires to gratify — no wish for to 
gain notoriety; but simply to describe my first impressions, and present 
the pictures to a few, who, like myself, are observers of human " nater." 

t It is the custom to learn the boys to shoot very young. The small 
_gunis.as indispensable as the small saddle. It tickled me in some 
pious families to hear nothing else talked of but hunting. The excitement 



82 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

Precocious youngster ! though he can stand ill 

The John Bull plan of lighting with the fist ; — 
These lads are early taught to thumb the triggers ; 
They begin on squirrels, then practise on the niggers 

CLXXVIII. 

Look at this wretch ! he's dress'd quite fashionable,* 
Though deepest villany his soul does stain ; 

He ^vander'd here for to be nearer hell, 

I do suppose ! from the far north he came ; 

He is a demon damned, without the yell — 
A reprobate, without the mark of Cain — 

A bold seducer — one who does despise 

The widow's broken heart — her orphan's cries f 

CLXXIX. 

The wretch who tortures youth and innocence. 
What deep damnation shall he not receive ! 

What can she plead ? abused confidence ; 

What can she do, but sorrow, pine, and grieve? 

Thy love so pure, unselfish, and intense — 
With God, thy character shall all retrieve. 

And does he in thy sorrows bear a part ? 

A walking nuisance, with a rotten heart ! 



of the climate makes reading operose ; and ridinir, shooting and racing 
supplies tlie place of more intellectual pursuits. Tlie practice of sjioot- 
ing iMuiliarizes them \vith blood. And to see striplings, uith overseers 
and others, hunting runaways, anxious lor a shot if the "runaway does not 
stand when tliev see and halloo to him, is not uncommon. A "friend lias 

saw two young ladies, daughters of Anderson M , each with a pistol, 

fighting a mock duel w ith great glee ! 

* I took him at first to be a merchant of Xew York, but was mistaken, 
hough the resemblance was striking. 

% 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 83 

CLXXX. 

I'll have the cursed rascal by the throat, 

If he does not his venom on me spit ! 
But see ! some hand the guilty dog has smote ! 

For this base crawling viper now has bit 
A file ! but hear his imploring note, 

As if his seared conscience could be smit ; 
And see him writhe in agony of pain ! — 
Thou demon damn'd, thou turnest but in vain ! 

CLXXXI. 

A virtuous heart for villany must bleed ; 

Thy parchment cheek refuses for to burn ; 
Thy rotten heart within thy eyes I read — 

Come, justice, once again to earth return ; 
A mother's love for me won't intercede — 

She will her first-born from her bosom spurn ! 
Thou shalt into the lowest pit be flung, 
To feed, on thy own rotten heart — thy dung. 

CLXXXII. 

If I but had a pincers on thy nose, 

I'd maim thy carcase, or I'd hold thee fast ; 

See, like a porpoise how the rascal blows ! — 
But the " undying worm " has thee at last. 

As to the fiercest hell thy spirit goes, — 
Virtue's bold murderer, thou shalt there be class'd. 

Where unto fiends thou may'st thy deeds rehearse. 

The meanest thing, that Heaven e'er stoop'd to curse ! 



B4 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH, 

CLXXXIII. 

A "forlorn hope," is coming, a recruit 

Of Satan's, fresh from Bruner's gambling hell ! 

I rank these gamblers far beneath the brute, 
Although they do with human beings dwell ; 

But tell them this, they will a fellow shoot — 
'T was trying to secure them, fell ! 

A posse of these thieves sometimes they catch, 

Make a nocturnal spree — a hanging match ! 

CLXXXIV. 
Their fears occasionally do prevail. 

And they do smell — abas, dread the tar ; 
And sometimes give their enemies leg bail ; 

For they have scouts that smell the storm afar ; 
Not relishing a ride upon a rail, 

They take a journey upon a rail-road car 
To Jackson, help the sages for to break 

Those laws — the good coerced them to make. 

CLXXXV. 

A hundred lashes, cogently applied, 

Would much refresh the memories of these larks ; 
A la Edwards, upon the naked hide — 

And scientific, for to leave the marks ! 
Suppose the law a penalty provide ? 

Why not inflict it on the cursed sharks ! 
'T is like the laws 'gainst dueling, a pretence — 
The influential oft it countenance. 



A WALK ABOUT VICfeSBURGH. 85 

CLXXXVI. 

Oh ye, who usefulness and virtue prize, 

" Who feel the Christian's and the patriot's flame !" 
Come, lead your sons and daughters to despise 

Corrupting customs, and unholy gain ; 
With needy worth and virtue sympathize, 

Who no affinity with cut-throats claim ; 
Seducers, duelists, and gamblers, — brand 
The offals of the earth — the living damn'd ! 

CLXXXVII. 

A son of Galen here does take the shine 

Off modern fops, though rather short of sight ; 

In looks snd voice he's somewhat feminine ; 
His breeches certainly are strapp'd full tight ; 

They say he goes it in the killing line. 
Albeit, he's very seldom known to fight : 

He takes, indeed, a very great delight 

In hearing sung, — " Oft in the stilly night." 

CLXXXVIII. 

And here's another, like a broad-axe keen, 
With face as red as comb of chicken cock. 

Which seems to say, that he's accustom'd been 
To drinking something stronger than mere hock ; 

He swears a clergyman shan't enter in 

To see his sick, till death their jaws does lock. 

I hope, dear friend, a rope may never surge thee, 

Or you might crave the benefit of clergy ! 
7* 



86 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

CLXXXIX. 

Here is a beauty, and she stares at me ! 

I take her (please excuse me) by her skin ; 
The reigning belle this beauty used to be, 

Ere she fell from innocence, the sin 
Of tasting food from love's forbidden tree ! 

Of course, her hopes of marriage are quite slim ; 
And if the clime would not her beauty mar, 
She'd shine in Texas yet, a brilliant star ! 

cxc. 

She might petition Texas for some land ; 

For beauties, if not chaste, are sometimes lucky I 
Or some base wealthy foreigner command, 

Like the fam'd harlot mendicant, Vespucci ; * 



* This ''beauty without paint/' was lately rusticating at Ogdensburgh, 
New York, with a cavalier servante. The interest some honorabies took 
in the claim of this fair one, while Mrs. Decaturs was neglected, was 
more gallant than patriotic. And the way some beauties hold out their 
charms to the highest bidder, is a caution ! A handsome woman without 
piety, or a strong mind, is apt to be a fool. And the many faces w^e meet 
in the street, that seem to say : — am I not pretty ? — would'nt 1 make a 
pretty play thing, for a rich old batchelor ? are apt to make us think, that 
unsophisticated and unselfish hearts, (excepting among Christians,) are 
small in number. 1 have seen a beautiful wanton take the " pass " in 
Broadway. Mothers with their daughters gaping at the " failen angel," 
as if she would set the north river on fire ; while those matrons, and young 
women, who were on errands of mercy, met no friendly smile of recog- 
nition. But a beauty in a New Orleans ball, (get cut of the way, old Dan 
Tucker,) if she has not the stomach of an ostrich, she will be surfeited with 
the good thing slavished upon her ! — She is there something like '' Vic/' 
among the nobles. 

I knew a cherub creature, whose innocent looks, and modest and vo- 
luptuous charms, would make the boldest seducer stare, and whom virtu- 
ous young men looked upon with delight and admiration, — who was a 
nuisance at the time ; — and what was more remarkable, had no idea of 
the nature and criminality, of concupiscence : passionless — not pure ! — 
Still beauty is bewitching ! Yet how strange that some should prefer that 
blotch of red, that seems glued to the skin ; to those spiritual features 
•which shoio a blush, or express the holier emotions of the heart. 



A WALK ABOUT VICSKSBURGH. 87 

For beauty there, I think, is in demand — 

Seme say it is not so in Old Kentucky ! 
But for myself, I never once was zealous 
For a 7'ouge patch — I fear I should be jealous. 

CXCI. 

Oh ! had she been that meek, retiring one, 

Her father's pride, her virtuous mother's praise, — • 

Whose thoughts, whose heart, was purer when alone, 
Than if her beauty was the ball room's gaze ; 

Her virtues with a steady light had shone — 
Time would have concentrated all their rays ; 

And when beloved friends wept o'er her tomb. 

Some lovely daughter would renew her bloom. 

CXCII. 

Oh wedded love ! I would thy raptures sing-, 
With heav'nly purity, and peace inspir'd ; 

Fountain, from whence perpetual pleasures spring — - 
Where virtue dwells, an angel guest retir'd ; 

Love's altar ! where the pious heart doth bring 
Her offerings, — the bride for heav'n attir'd. 

And though one heart be widow'd left, and lone ; 

How sweet this type of an eternal home ! 

CXCIII. 

Those lovely cherubs laughing in their tears. 
Sweet innocence and beauty, deck'd in smiles ; 

How warm a mother's love ! the thought she rears 
For immortality, where sin defiles ; 



88 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

Her glowing hopes, and Oh, her rising fears, 

E'en when she views their artU^ss glee and wiles ! — 
Mothers ortreemen, be worthy ol' the name ! 
Like pious Bethune, or the sainted Grahame. 

CXCIV. 

But many hulies do preter a rake ! 

One reason why, they deem them extra smart ; 
And always handy, when they wish to take 

A walk, othcions, anxions lor a start ; 
A modest man, they stereotype — "a cake " — 

He is not won't to take an active part 
In hugging them, whieh leads to their nndoing — 
And they are thought too cautious about wooing ! 

cxcv. 

This beauty was the " observ'd ot'all observers," 
At the theatre, concerts, or the balls ! — 

Her servants, they were not your common servers, — 
But Chivalry tormented her with calls ! 

And some, like " Werter," were o 're ome with fervors 
^^'hich vanity inspires, — in folly's halls. 

But to my mind, the devil oil stands sentry, 

To lead spoil'd beauties, down his own dark entry. 

CXCVI. 

"Beauty is paint !" and those 'twas thought would bless 
Some manly heart, instilling purest joy, 

Through weakness, or temptation, otl transgress, 
And parents, lovers, brothers, hopes destroy. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGII. 89 

Oh ! how I've felt, for seeming loveliness, 

My cheeks have crimson'd, even from a boy ; 
And gazing, thought it would be hard to die, 
No kiss from beauty's lips — no tear from woman's eye. 

CXCVII. 

A lady kiss'd me a ihw years since, 

T do remember well — 'twas in ]Jccembcr ! 

And though I blush'd, I'm sure I did not wince — 
I felt as warm, as red hot glowing ember 

s ; some you know, do not the matter mince — 
Most frequent those with waists not over slender ! 

But if I fall in love, I'll go the death, 

For pearly teeth, sweet lips, and sweeter breath ! 

CXCVIII. 
Down south, it is not lawful for to kiss ! 

At least, I'm sure it's very much neglected ; 
It's somewhat rare, to see a blushing miss, 

I've many seen prodigiously affected ! 
One reason of their frequent pow/mg- is, 

The Indian weed, the young men lips's infected. 
Let me to north, I love a kissing scrape ! — 
Here it is deem'd worse than a servants rape.* 



* Ifyod kIidiiM ki.ss ;i lady f-oiilli, yrni would sland a chance to f;nt a 
luillcl riockcd iiilo you. — Jfyoii d«(l(jiir a biiglit niidlalo, it is venial — or 
yon may i)e mtdclcd in a small (ino' ! An inlerigfrit lady of INashville, 
told me, llial Ik r lover did not dare kiss her till after marriage. Quiie 
funny lor the Hunny Houlh ! 'J'liere are excepiions to all rulcH, however. 
A fellow chip o( mine, v\as impudent enough to kinn a rich widow, and 
impi udcnt eu(;i;gh to tell me of it; hut he in a gentleman like myself, 
and (\(>uh faint ladicn, — good looking ! " But it lakes the vidders ! " — 



90 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

CXCIX. 

Some think a little hand aristocratic, — 

Give me a beautious mouth, that does not scorn 

A burning kiss ! — so simple yet emphatic : 
(Which utters words, affectionate and warm, 

Though they may not be always most didactic ; ) 
Like Jacob's kiss, that surely was no harm ! 

But when I kiss the girls, I do not cry ; t 

Some lovely one's, I know, I've made to sigh ! 

CC. 

The haughty beauty's lips, are always dry — 
The modest virgin's, like an infant's, sweet : 

Whom if you ever chance to kiss, you'll try 
This pledge of dearest friendship to repeat ; — 



How few can kiss a "lady," no — no — a woman scientifically 1 How 
few have an aristocratic mouth 1 I don't mean your tobacco chewing gen- 
try, who are only fit to live in a bar-room, — ncjr your miu^lachioet) booby 
who looks as if he was turning into a monkey ! — But the modest gentle- 
man. Who ever knew a poet, that had not a pretty mouth 1 1 don't 
mean the tribe of poetasters however, for their " name is legion ', " nor do 
1 wish with him ot the " archangel's harp," — 

That all the beautiful had but one mouth, 

That we might kiss at once, from north to south. 

By the by, what a time they must have at some Persian weddings ? 
How many 1 have seen I would prefer kissing to Queen Victoria ? I had 
one such in my mind, when I penned — " Affection'^ Kiss." But like all 
other luxuries it riuist be indulged in witii moderation. I speak to the 
" Elect " now ! 1 remember a lew years since, in Mount Holly, New 
Jersey, to have seen a woman with the prettiest mouth imaginable, 
though her lij)s were chapped by the cold, and sighed for a kiss ! — That 
woman's mouth, (not features,) I never can obliterate, — I can't tell why. 
To have one that loves you, cling to you at parting, and with tears in 
her eyes — kiss you ! who can ever forget it 1 But I must live in the 
past — not in the future. 

f " And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept." 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 91 

A few there are, and they I trust know why, 
I'll kiss them if I can, where'er we meet ! 
Affection's kiss, 'tis love's effectual leaven — 
I've sometimes wonder'd if they kiss'd in heaven ! 

CCI. 

The girls are lovely in the quaker city ; 

One reason why, they're bathing ev'ry day; 
Which makes their ideas, bright and witty. 

And purifies their aivhard lumps of clay ! 
The quakeresses, I do think quite pretty, 

Unskill'd the sweet piano for to play. 
They spoil, however, in this southern state — 
For most, save negroes, here deteriorate ! 

ecu. 

My eyes ! — here comes an amazonian dame ! 

Some think all vulgar animals are male ; — 
A bull head creature, with a giant frame 

And one well fitted for to take the ivliale ! 
So hideous ugly that she gives me pain, — 

She'll wear the breeches if her lord should fail, 
'Twas one of this kind, a fierce Lucinda 
In London, threw her husband from the window ! 

CCIII. 
A truce, a truce, I now must surely stop, 

Not for the mud, musquitoes, or the heat ; 
But for a good, or rather a bad cause, 

The rain confound it's wash'd away the street ! 



92 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

Which like some characters is full of flaws — 

Well, I'll return and try some other beat. 
Stagnations boast ! the rain and fire, will kill her, 
And leave but little for good parson Miller ! 

CCIV. 

For Satan here has stablish'd his head quarters, 
('Twas formerly by Natchez's river side,) 

Where red hot chivalry, and fashion's daughters, 
Are steel'd in impudence, or starch'd in pride ; 

And e'en in church the "roaring lion " loiters. 
He likes a cloak his cloven foot to hide. 

Down east, the natives drove him to the bush, 

But here he goes it with a perfect rush ! 

ccv. 

Thou hmd of dust, and mud, and ugliness. 
How any one did take thee for the site 

Of a great city, I could never guess. 

Unless he stray 'd here somehow in the night. 

And sigh'd to live in utter loneliness. 

At least from those, whose skins are somewhat white! 

Newport, Troy, and Bennington, knock under, — 

Yicksburg, does eclipse you all to thunder ! 

CCVI. 

This Burgh would make a good "Botany bay," 
For Newport gentry guilty of high treason ; 

They'd find it somewhat hard to run away — 
Particularl)' in the rainy season! 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 93 

They might get the hydrophobia ! — 

And that indeed would be the only reason, 
Why they should have a remedy, therefore — 
Make them swear allegiance, or bar the door. 

CCVII. 

Or they might place him on the highest hill, 
With Marshall's telescope to watch each star ; 

There he might gaze, or stare, or sleep, until 
The morn, depriv'd of a mosquitoe bar ; 

Or listen to the cry of whip-poor-will — 
Or the shrill whistle of the midnight car : 

'Twould not be long before he'd lose all hope. 

And call for coffee for one — and a rope ! 

ccYiir. 

Here's a poor wretch, I very often meet, — 
Thou knowest what it is to be a slave ? 

No shoes that can be call'd such to thy {eet — 
With half a shirt the elements to brave ; 

Thy crime, old age — success' with thee defeat. 
For thou a life time to some ingrate gave, 

Who hast thee now on servant's mercies thrown ; 

For slavery, turns e'en female hearts to stone ! 

CCIX. 

And these professors, seldom do they pray * 
For slaves, and try to have them for a star 

* It is a rare thing for the house servants to be called in to prayers, they 
pray for them not to die sometimes, — but faithful, earnest prayer for them, 
and interest in their spiritual welfare, is uncommon. On the plantations 

9 



94 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

In their eternal crown ; their actions say, — 
Oh let them go to hell, I fear they'll mar 

My joy in heav'n, if they should get that way, 
My nerves so delicate, would surely jar — 

God never intended, that they should walk the street 

Of New Jerusalem, with their flat feet ! 

ccx. 

Like brutes they live, and worse than brutes they die- 
There's few that careth for my soul, or me 

They well may say, to lead my thoughts on high, 
Or show the glories of eternity. 

But Ethiop's sons, to heav'n soon shall cry ! — 
" Servant of servants," though they now may be. 

For the millennium, many here do pray ; 

Yet strive to keep far off that glorious day. 

CCXI. 

Some hold that negroes are beneath the brute, 
Though they do deem them human, in the use 

Of them, when taste or appetency suit ; 

Then worse than brutes the sufferers abuse : 



of many professing Christians, no plan is devised, no arrangement made for 
their instruction. J have known a small quarter house used, that would 
not hold one half of them, while the hateful overseer must be among them 
preventing all good. The extreme degradation of some of them is in- 
credible. Ask them who they belong to, they cannot tell ! And as they 
are compelled to work for their masters or themselves on the Sabbath, it 
is difficult to tell how they can be Christians. The washing, chopping 
Avood, &c., being on many farms a Sunday job. Many are compelled to 
hawk vegetables about the city on the Sabbath — professors buying the 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 95 

Poor suffering wretches must of course be mute, 

Hopeless, till death their painful bonds does loose : 
Here's one delights on them to curse, or frown, 
Though scarce above a negro — yet he's brown. 

CCXII. 

See on this grove there stands an ancient frame, 
Where there appears as usual quite a crowd ! 

Some founder'd — others halt, or blind, or lame, 
' Some smoking, cutting — others swearing loud — 

Some brought up north, others again that came 
Down on a raft ! of course not over proud. 

So unlike me, if you are fond of much men — 

Why walk in, it's kept by a buckeye Dutchman ! 

CCXIII. 

This is the place where they do take in boarders. 
And where the chinses stole my flannel shirt ! 

As I suppose, it went without my orders ; 
And these perfumers do a fellow hurt : 

The women folks, are like most money hoarders, 
They love the money, and neglect the dirt ! 

I can go 'part frog, or sourcrout in my eating, — 

But cannot go the ivhole hog, in my sleeping ! 



same as others ! And from their extreme ignorance of Scripture truth, an 
occasional sermon is of little benefit — for they must not be preached to 
as free men. An acquaintance knew of a singular circumstance' a few 
years since; the minister in preaching to the servants made use of some 
ijidifscrest expressions — telling them not to break the Sabbath — to obey 
God in preference to man, or ideas of that import ; this would be Scrip- 
ture to free men — but to those whose souls and bodies are bound; it was 
treason ! — he was accordingly dismissed. 



96 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

CCXIV. 
I've often fanci'd I saw Hogarth there, 

The time, say one, when we sat down to dinner ; 
To watch some covey how surpris'd he'd stare. 

As flesh, and fish, most magically grew thinner ! 
Or the expression of his calm despair, 

Especially if a new beginner ; — 
He'd think with me, the eloquence of eating 
Was action, action, three times repeating ! 

ccxv. 

The madam is not so ugly, or so thin. 
As a raw fellow might at first suppose ; 

She has, 'tis true, a fascinating grin. 

For those whose silver in her pocket goes ; 

And 't may be sometime yet, ere nose and chin, 
Forget their friend between, and come to blows ! 

But henceforth I'll try to steer clear of such, — 

The green Irish, the broivn Spaniard, and the black 
Dutch ! 

CCXVI. 

In travelling you're apt to get acquainted 
With strange bed fellows, as all know is a fact ; 

From some how hard to keep from getting tainted, 
More nauseous than a dose of ipecac ! 

I thought some of these beauties to have painted. 
Though coloring matter, I should oft have lack'd. 

If this sells well, and I can raise the means, 

I'll take a walk, I think, round New Orleans ! 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 97 

CCXVII. 

For I have ta'en but a little canvass, 

And daub'd the likeness of a few, not all ; 

There's one at least, that I have wrote an ass — 
And he's in soul, if not in body, small ! 

The men do here the ladies far surpass 
In ev'ry thing, but getting up a ball ! 

And I do think, a new importation 

From old Kentuck, would work a reformation. 

CCXVIII. 

It's a strange place, where there is nothing queer. 
Though some will say it's all the force of habit ; 

For if you chance to Pekin for to steer, 

You'll find they dish up rats, much like a rabbit ! 

In other places dog meat is quite dear, — 

'Twould make you hoivl to see the children grab it! — 

In El-dorado, where they want some force, 

They go it neck and ears, upon the horse : 

CCXIX. 

It is not bad, although it^s somewhat coarse, 
If salted nicely, and cook'd till well done ; 

'Tis true, that you may feel a little hoarse — 
Instilling life 'twill help you for to run ; 

Improve the senses, for to smell the source 

Whence comes the bullet, from a Camanche's gun ! 
9* 



98 A WALK ABOUT VICKSEURGH. 

But to sum up this stanza and be brief, 
I'll tell you in a note, of the horse thief. * 

ccxx. 

But I have walk'd until my legs are tir'd ; — 
Here see a blood — a native Cherokee ! 

The Vicksburgh ladies have these lads admir'd, 
Dress'd in the height of fashion do you see ! 

These fellows can't be bought, or sold, or hir'd 
To work ; — they are the " fierce democracy." 

From time immemorial, these outlaws 

Have scalp'd the Christians, and have beat their squaws. 

CCXXI. 

In this dull city you will see no Quakers, 
Or as they wish for to be called, Friends, — 

They always are, or try to be peace-makers ; 
The poor and needy, one and all befriends. 

I've seen some dames here, who would make good 
Shakers ! 
And here the moral of this stanza ends. — 

Mormons, Shakers, and the "great idolatry ; " 

Are to the devil all I think an oddity ! 



* A young man who had served in the Texian wars, observed, there 
was at one time no hanging for murder, though there was for horse steal- 
ing, on account of the difficulties they were put to by being deprived of 
their horses. A noted rascal having murdered a young man, a jury was 
summoned and the rascal tried — but what was the surprise of the judge 
when the verdict was rendered by the foreman, — we find this felloAV 
guilty of horse stealing ! They got him on the hip that time. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 99 

CCXXII. 

Here's a gay lady, I would not upbraid 
For following foolisb customs, had she wealth ; 

She's bought a yard of cambric — she's afraid 
To carry it, 't might injure her dear health ! 

See a bare-footed and bare-headed maid, 

Does creep behind her close, as if by stealth, 

To carry the enormous bundle home, 

Weight of a box of pills, or corset bone ! 

CCXXIII. 

Oh affectation ! simple — prudish — shy — - 
Thou art to men of sense, a laughing stock ! 

To me at least a curiosity ; 

A pretty pet, the tenant of a frock. 

How strange that they in bed with man should lie, 
You'r apt to think they would prefer a block ! — 

Give me the flashing eye, warm flesh and blood ; 

None of your puling, mincing, icy brood. 

CCXXIV. 

Who comes ? A gentleman — or should I say 
One who is thought so, must I tell you why } 

His father once was rich, though he can't pay 
His debts, and, worst of all, he will not try ! 

And brought him up a loafer, though he may 
Fight himself to be editor, by-and-by ; — 

But do the ladies treat him with politeness ? 

Oh, certainly — their eyes do flash with brightness ! 



100 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

ccxxv. 

If you had the mien of the pig-faced lady — 

The actions of a trog — the manners of a boor — 

If Pa has had the " brads," they won't upbraid thee ; 
For some a murderer with gold endure ! — 

Not quite so natural as Byron's Haidee ! — 
Though Don Juans do often them allure. 

What matters, if you're handsome and a scholar ? 

You are a fool, without the potent dollar ! 

CCXXVI. 

Who is a gentleman ? — pray let me ask ? * 
" One that's effeminate, with lady's hands, 

Does in the sun of gold and beauty bask. 
With slaves by hundreds tilling of his lands ; 

* Who are gentlemen "? What constitutes a gentlemen 1 — are qcestions 
few answer to my satisfaction. With some he must have dignity of char- 
acter — must be able to converse to edification — must love the society of 
females, &c. In Memphis, Tenn., a man wlio owns two negroes, a thirty 
dollar horse, and can raise a potgui on himself, — he's a gentleman ! In 
Vicksburgh the son of a planter, or any one who can live without work — 
him that has property or a profession — a j)enniless lawyer, or quack phy- 
sician — are more respectable than a working man with property. (I al- 
lude to the estimation in which they are .held by the ladies, and speak of 
things in the general.) There is a vast dilTerence, however, between a man 
thinking, and calling himself a gentleman, and one who feels he is one. 
I somewhat offended a young man on his mother's plantation, by telling 
liiai that some young gents, who were sitting talking to his sisters, cursing 
and swearing, speaking savage to the servants, &c., could not go into the 
society a decent mechanic could down east. He would have it that money 
made the gentleman, or at least the ladies in the parish made him think so. 
I enjoyed a hearty laugh with a middle aged gentleman in Memphis. A 
i\lr Scott, of New Orleans, was preaching in the Presbyterian church. 
We went frequently to hear him ; my friend w;is knoion. He had been a 
man of wealth in Kentucky — was now poor. The " business man," Mr. 
l^ias, always put him in a l)ack seat, though I was taken to a front one. 
In a shurt time, however, he placed me back ; h^ had ascertained I was a 
plebian, and mistaken me for a gentleman ! The pews at this time, I 
think, were not rented. It is strange to one who could never Io(jk on 
wealth in the same light with the m iss, to see the vagabond son of a rich 
father, h )W he will be caresssd by feiiiales, who would scorn a young nmn 
of low extraction, though he had tlie person of Milton when young, the 
sensibility and soul of Pollock, or the convesational powers of Burns. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 101 

Who squanders wealth, though widow'd age some asks, 

With looks of sufF'ring and with wither'd hands ; 
With empty head, dress'd like a peacock fine ! 
Unfit 'mongst men of genius for to shine ? " 

ccxxvai. 

*• The man of spirit, with the oath profane ; 

As if without he could not be believ'd ? 
For to be decent, seems to some too tame ; 

The devil has his children much deceiv'd — 
Like the bold harlot, glory in their shame. 

As though they were awhile from hell reprieved. 
To wax continually from bad to worse, 
Till they resound hell's everlasting curse ! " 

CCXXVIII. 

" Not those who boast of honor, and have none ; 

Integrity, and often from it swerve ; 
A spotless reputation, when it's gone. 

Or such as blustering politicians serve : 
I made a bargain on a time with one 

Whom I did think, had honor, sense, and nerve ; — 
Hunter's mistake — a skunk, oft for a hare ; 
But I mistook a jackass, for a mare ! * 



* There is one tiling in the character and conduct of many gentlemen 
Fdutl), that I abominate, to wit — the meanness and duplicity with which 
they treat those they deem their dependants, or InferiorK. If a man goes 
Koiith in the capacity of a "gentleman," nothing is too good for him, even 
the ladies notice liim. 13ut change the pretended gentleman, (fur guch he 
may be,) to a generous and intelligent mechanic, and how different the 
treatment. You may eat at the same table, there is no conversation di- 



102 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

CCXXIX. 

The well bred gentleman is always mild, 

Like the great Washington — modest, yet firm ; 

Whose lips profanity hath ne'er defii'd — 

Who would a swearer from his presence spurn ; 

Bright virtue's unobtrusive, honor'd child, 

Whom gold nor menace could from duty turn : 

Meek, modest, noble, virtuous, thoughtful, brave, 

Who'd scorn for to insult or pain a slave. 



reeled to you — you must sit mute. The servants will scarcely serve you at 
table ; they will give you something similar to a hog pen to sleep in j and 
then set a watch on you for fear you will hug Dinah. If you are riding 
through the country, especially Louisiana, it is almost impossible to get a 
place to stay over night. Among the Methodists itis.rare they will treat a 
stranger with the courtesy of decency. The young ladies will gabber 
without even a decent recognition ! 1 judge not only by my own experi- 
encCj but of otheis also. The master of the house is frequently too famil- 
iar, but his daughters, whom you would not kiss perhaps for a "diamond,," 
think it indicates quality — and. Oh saw my leg off! respectability to cut 
you. — (Those of education, and who drum on the piano, I do net include.) 
What a difference in plates north where I have been, the farmer's daugh- 
ters would so pester you with their attention, that the roughest of us 
would blush considerable. And were they less respectable % — I trow not. 
I made a bargain with a wealthy planter near Milliken's Bend, La., in 
Vicksburgh, and said to him, — Now sir, I depend upon your " honor" in 
this matter, for when you reach home you will find a rival who will try to 
bargain with you. It whs all right, I must ride up, measure the building, 
&c. When I arrived within a few miles, I met my rival, with a note 
from the man of honor, that 1 need not come for he had eng;iged others — 
of course his word was nothing with a mechanic, — but with a "gentleman 
gambler," it would have cost him a shot. J. had the satisfaction of walk- 
ing back ten miles in the rain and mud, beside* expense of going in the 
boat. An acquainlance spent some twenty-five dollars in riding and 
waiting on a planter, who said he wanted a house buiided ; after he had 
troubled him sufficiently — he told him he should nor. build now. These 
things, perhaps, are not general, but the idea of being honorable to those 
who they deem beneath ihem is something not included in the code of a 
gentleman. And the notion of a man travelling as a gentleman, to know 
. any thing of the manners and customs of the south — is all ludge ! To 
know things as they are, you must travel (to them) incog, i. e. as a 
gentleman in the capacity of a mechanic. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 103 

ccxxx. 

What means this crowd ? — Hays' selling human cattle ;^ 
Not " Old Hays " though, but listen to his brogue ! 

Is this not strange ? I have not look'd in " Vattel ; " 
But 'tis a business very much in vogue 

About these parts, which makes some north to tattle : 
But hear him lie — hark ! listen to the rogue ; 

He says her age is forty, and no more, — 

I'll bet a likely negro, she's three score ! 

* To a person who was never soutli — the first time he sees a bright 
mulatto sold, it will make him stare ! The ideas of revenge, of oppression, 
of lechery, and of infinite meanness, will Hash upon his mind ; — at least it 
was so with me. But when he hears a " broth of a boy,'' from oppressed 
Ireland, selling his fellows, it sets him a thinking. But only make a thing 
lawful, and conscience sleeps. I seriously believe, if "burking" was 
made lawful, — that a certain class of men could be killed with impunity 
and profit 5 you would see many signs with,— The best price given for 
large and sound subjects. 'N. B. Those with mustachioes preferred! 
And some gent whose sables was rather rusty, might overhear a 
couple of ruffians behind him saying, — here's a good subject, and take to 
his heels as if the devil was after him ! 1 saw some yellow girls, sisters, 
who were about to be sold, and their pleading looks gave me pain — they 
knew they must be separated. I judged by their resemblance to their 
master, that he was their father. I went down to New Orleans, a deck 
passage with tv/o slave dealers, they had six or eight slaves with them, one 
woman fifty years of age, blind of an eye, they offered tor one hundred 
dollars. A man of forty-five years old, a blacksmith, they told him he 
must say he was only thirty -five : a boy of sixteen, ajjiused the company 
by telling them of his compulsory falhership ! — while the most of them 
looked, as if they had been torn from their humble homes, by these 
heartless speculators. It is doubtless necessary to sell or transfer slaves, 
but a little observation will convince you that it is frequently a rascally 
piece of business. One of the wealthiest traders in Virginia, commenced 
business with on old negro that his father gave him— by taking him to N. 
Orleans, and selling him for fifty dollars ! 1 knoAv an extensive brick- 
maker who was a brute with his hands, when the few months were gone 
which one of his negroes had been hired for, the negro told him — he was 
glad his time was out, for he was too hard a man for him ; he went imme- 
diately and bought him : was there no meanness in this ? That the African 
race were doomed by God to slavery, few will doubt, — but that those 
whose black blood is nearly run out, should be ranked with them, is to me 
cruel and unjust. And I can see, and feel, how slaveholders can be 
Christans — (those born and brought up under the system,) but in this day 
of light, when the Eagle of liberty is hovering over the nations ready to 
take his final resting place, the man v/ho is free from this curse, and en- 
gages in it to possess and retain slaves, sins against his own conscience j 
and becomes as far as my observation went, destitute of piety — if in- 
deed he ever had any. 



104 A WVr.K AHOUT VICKSBURGII. 

CCXXXI. 

Thoro's many (hinos Ihut seoni to us (luito strange, 
And fill ns ut lirst sight, with consternation ; 

'i'ill time, unil habit, does our ieclings cliangc 
And \vc have soniohow got a " now creation" 

Hellvvard, though nvo ieel iuohnod io range 

In tnanimon's marts, e'en to the soul's starvation ! 

Past the post-ollicc quickly now I slope, 

There is a boat in si:j;ht, 1 hvnnhly hope. 

rrxxxn. 

1 lore is a liigh, and somewhat splendid store, 
Though Dr. II. think strange, yet I do ween 

Since J)r. (^reen poor lollow is ni> more. 

The ugliest men in N'ickshurgh may be seen ! 

But this the ladies nmst have known before : 

Still there is H 1, but he's no kin to Win, — 

But go in good society this fellow can, 

Do you ask why ? — why he has kill'd his man ! 

CCXXXIII. 

"Well, hero's some heads would suit the friends of Gall- 
For great, and small, about these quarters lurk ; 

Here's one largo man, whom some arc apt to call 
Or name him **Mac," he is not loud i>f work ! 

And this owl face, you'd think he'd made a haul 
At gambling — he does gang unto the "kirk." 

But I am oif, they aVe not worth the trouble 

0( a review : I'll have a chat with Hubbcl. 



A WALK ABOUT VICSKSBURGH. 105 

CCXXXIV. 

Well I have but a tithe of things Burvey'd, 
Yet like the wandering .^(^w I'll journey on ; 

And yet though cautious, I am much afraid 

Of having skipped some things in days by gone ; 

But I must not by trifles be delay 'd, 

For I hope soon, to see some verdant lawn, 

Where I shall have the pleasure for to greet 

Some long lost friend, within some lov'd retreat. 

ccxxxv, 

Oh might I live in some retired spot. 

With some fond heart, by heav'n in mercy sent ! 
Alike the world forgetting", and forgot. 

With health and love, (a competence,; content ; 
I would not envy mammon's slave his lot — 

Chain 'd to his gold, till life's best blood is spent. 
But far from venal selfishness would try. 
To live a peaceful life, in peace to die. 

CCXXXVI. 
'Tis probable I will grow fat sometime, 

When I got clear of trouble and of sorrow ! 
Or on the couch of ease I do recline, — 

Which will bo I am thinking, on the morrow : 
And if the past will serve us as a sign, 

A lucky hint for years to come I'll borrow. 
In passing through earth's fiery ordeal — 
Have some conception of the hell that's real ! 
10 



106 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

CCXXXVII. 

And now, I have a notion for to halt ; 

Not that my muse, but audience may be tir'd ; 
Though that would truly be the muse's fault — 

E'en if she had good humoredly desir'd, 
To give these boys a dose of " attic salt " 

For being oft within their mud-hole mir'd ! 
And if from coming back I'll be debarr'd, 
I'll leave these lines — as others leave their card ! 

CCXXXVIII. 

Though they may seem nor poetry, nor wit, 
Reliev'd and ornate, with no learned lumber ; 

Still burning thoughts into my brain would flit, 
Though I kept cool as melon or cucumber ; 

And shall, till " Poe " does get me on his spit ! 
Though he cannot disturb my nightly slumber ; 

Yet he like Ellery, might clinch me hard, 

And take me for an " amateur," or Ward. 

CCXXXIX. 

An oblong square, a monstrous pile of brick, — 
The Prentiss house as you may plainly see ! 

'Tis part upon a rock, the walls quite thick — 
But Childer's, not Saint Peter keeps the key. 

I done some of the work there mighty slick. 
And have the luck to have the dimes with me : 

This house may do for Vicksburgh, and for Prentiss, 

But there is one which kills it dead at Memphis ! 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 107 

CCXL. 

Well, I am swamp'd at last, I've lost my way, — 
Fire ! murder ! rape ! — I've nearly lost my boot ! 

It serves me right, I should have ta'eri the dray ; 
For I believe I've almost taken root 

In this black mud, or Misissippi clay ; 
If I stay here to summer I shall shoot I 

Goodheav'ns ! I'm out, and don't I look poetic ! 

I know, at least, that I do feel quite hectic. 

CCXLI. 

Well, here I am, if not adrift — afloat — 

And fierce for fight, my pen's the sword I wield I 

I'll prick the chieftain of this huge wharf boat : 
He'll bring his Irish porters in the Jield ! 

He's impudence personifi'd — he smote 

A fellow man — his heart's 'gainst mercy steel'd : 

Such men are qualified to get along. 

Among a motley, and a swell-head throng. 

CCXLII. 

But here she comes, black as a British steamer ! 

Looks much, as I suppose, like Noah's ark 
Without the upper story, perhaps meaner : 

But such a puffing, bellowing^ mercy — hark ! 
Let " Chuzzlewit " describe her, he's a screamer, — 

A coward whelp, which loves it's snappish bark. 
The girls, and boats, are handsomer in York, 
Those graceful swans — these awkard as a stork. 



108 A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 

CCCXLIII. 

Heigho ! Heigho ! I'm on the king of rivers, 
Not quarter'd on the deck this time however ! 

She's off— she's off— good heaven's how she quivers ! 
The captain though and crew are mighty clever ; — 

Fire up my boys, and let her go to shivers ! 
There is ties behind, for me to sever ; 

I'd rather blow up here, with none to pity, 

Than die a natural death, in Vicksburgh city !* 

CCXLIV. 

The rolling wheel the water fast displaces, 

We leave the model city far behind ; 
Thou land of gelid hearts, and pallid faces, 

I leave thee now, a warmer home to find ! 
And fancy, I do feel their warm embraces, — 

Those that do love me constant, true, and kind ; 
Farewell ! farewell ! — no love is lost between us, 
I've only been a " looker on in Venice." 

CCXLV. 

How swift we glide, what raptures now are mine — 

Lo ! see ! the fated city view again ! 
The river is so strangely serpentine, t 

We've run five miles, five hundred yards to gain. 



* I am not so bad as a Virginian who spent part of the winter here, he 
observed; he would rather be hxmg in Virginia — than die a natural death in 
Vicksburgh ! 

t When you have journeyed some five miles you are nearly opposite the 
City, the river running almost to a circle : the possibility of the river 
cutting through a narrow Isthmus, and leaving the city some two or three 
miles in the rear, has of late years much alarmed some Vicksburgians. 



A WALK ABOUT VICKSBURGH. 



109 



If it would cut a channel on a line 

The city then would high and dry remain ,- 
Like " Tadmor in the wilderness " to be 
Immortal Vick — a thing of memory ! 



10 




MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 



TO 



I've seen more beautiful than thou ! 

With cheeks of ruddier, healthier bloom ; 
The form of majesty — the brow 

That wit and genius does illume ; 
Sweet lips of beauty's purest mould — 

The swan-like neck — the melting eye ; 
And oh ! those thousand charms untold, 

That make the youthful heart to sigh : 

But though more brilliant I have seen, 

Where art doth every grace bestow ; 
Even since my heart thou hast subdued, 

1 feel there's none like thee below ! 
As pillow'd on thy breast I lay, 

So tender, guileless, free from stain ; 
I in a moment, chase away 

Whole years of misery and pain. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Ill 



I've seen the beautiful advance, 

To join the gay and giddy throng ! 
To thread the mazes of the dance — 

The queen of beauty, as of song ! 
How many hearts can she command ? 

If haply she hath none undone ; 
And he who gains her heart, and hand. 

Doth deem he hath a kingdom won ! 

But thou dost brighter, holier shine. 

Religion's meek and lowly child ; 
Whose dowry is of grace divine. 

By sin untainted — unbeguil'd ; 
Exemplar of pudicity, 

And heritor of bliss thou art ; 
How white thy vestal purity ! 

How blessed are the pure in heart ! 

For thou dost leave the scenes of mirth, 

For the sick couch where want doth lie 
Like messengers of love to earth ; 

Or guardian angels from the sky ! 
To wipe the tears from mourners' eyes, 

To lead the young in wisdom's ways ; 
And where foul blasphemies did rise, 

To wake the melody of praise ! 



112 MISCELLANEOUS I'OEMS. 

How otl thou'st mourn \1 in agony, 

That daring, fashionablo guilt, 
Wliich deeuif! no insult wip'd away. 

Until a brother's blood is spilt, — 
Oh ! had thy prayers but power to stay 

This relic tVoni a barbarous age ; 
This blot on southern chivalry ! 

This stain upon our nation's page ! 

I see around the proud, the gay, 

The lov'd, the llatter'd, the adniir'd ; 
The pageants of an idle day, 

Hearts tilTd with hope — with rapture tir'd 
But that angelic purity — 

Those works of love — that lovely brow 
Where virtue clasps humility — 

Does tell me few are blest as thou ! 

The forms of beauty's fairest mould. 

Though vigorous, will fade full soon ; 
And every grace which it iniblds 

Will be intblded in the tomb : 
' Tis virtue only shall remain, 

To charm all hearts — delight all eyes ; 
Like thee, dear woman, freed trom stain 

To bloom fore'er in paradise ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 113 



THE SHIPWRECKED MAID. 

Mountainous high the billows rise, 
The winds as mighty thunders roar ; 

While darkness veils the frowning skies, 
And hope departs forevermore ; 

The vessel sinks — the good, the brave 

Find in the deep a watery grave. 

One awful rush — we sink ! we sink ! 

They in one mighty chorus cry ! 
As on eternity's dread brink 

The prayer — the shriek — does pierce the sky ! 
Not one of all her crew is sav'd — 
None seen, save one distracted maid ! 

The fury of the storm gone by, 

And hush'd the elemental shock, 
The light returns, but to descry 

The wretched maiden on the rock ; 
Her bleeding" breast, and loosen'd hair. 
Picture the image of despair ! 

As if our Savior there had stood. 

To calm the raging of the storm ; 
So in a wild, yet awful mood 

The virgin seem'd, cold and forlorn ; 



A motbuM'V lovo was near hor Koart, 
Aud his from whom 'i was vloath to |>art. 

Our hearts »U bleovl tor tl^y J road fate — 
Bach boscau hoavos a sigh lor thoo ! 

Tho bark has vontvirM, but too late I 
See ! view hor ^|>cochlc?is «^g'^^»^v ! 

As by the biUowj surges driven — 

She*s lost to us — restored to luavou ! 



Shk does not s^oom to uotioo luo, 

Though very otteu we do meet ; 
And 1 do yearu her form to see. 

In crowded church, or open street ; 
Though when we pa^, it gives me pain, 

My bosoui then tceb doubly lone ; 
I think wo may not meet again — 

I feel that we must bo unknown ! 

Oh, if she knew I did admii^e 

That mien, no picture oau express ! 
That soul, that shames the poet's lyr^ 

For to portrav its lovelinoss ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 115 

Then she, perchance, might smile on me, 
With smiles that bless her mother's home ; 

But oh, the thought — 't is agony. 
That we must ever be unknown ! 

I see her kneeling now in prayer, 

I know, I feel, she is sincere ; 
No selfishness can e'er be there, 

I've seen her wipe the burning tear ; 
Her thoughts are centred now above — 

They dwell, they rest on Christ alone ; 
My heart is fill'd with burning love, 

For one who is to me unknown ! 

Oh, hours of bliss ! I love to muse 

On joys that never will be mine ; 
For we have not. power to choose 

Our destiny — at least in time ! 
I think how alter'd she will be. 

When months and years of care are flown ; 
And sigh to think her destiny 

Must be to me on earth unknown I 

Without some virtuous heart to love. 

How cold, how dreary is this life ; 
No one to welcome or to soothe — 

No dear beloved friend or wife : 



116 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS, 

I've thought no one could feel like me, 
In secret for some heart I groan ; 

But I must disappointed be, 

To her that bleeds my heart unknown ! 

But years have pass'd — I miss thee now. 

Though southern belles come riding by ! 
But they to money only bow, 

I do avert from them mine eye ! 
This is no land of poetry, 

Where lovers for a mate do moan ; 
A land where all's sterility — 

Where I do wish to be unknown ! 

But Oh ! I shortly shall return 

To tread those isles, my feet have trod ! 
Yet thou may'st lie in the cold urn. 

Thy spirit have return'd to God. 
And the blest thought, that we may meet 

In peace, around the heavenly throne — 
The thought how ravishing, how sweet. 

That we will not be there unknown I 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 117 



STANZAS. 

Joyous hopes of youth arise. 

Memory do your active part, 
Brighter scenes and sunny skies 

Hasten for to glad this heart ! 
Let me linger for a while. 
In beauty's arms — 'neath beauty's smile. 

Come with all your welcome train, 
Nights of love and days of joy ! 

Gives me pleasures back again, 
For the sorrows that annoy ; 

Let me kiss again the rose, 

That sweet maiden's cheeks disclose. 

Pleasant days of childhood come, 
Welcome to this pensive heart ; 

Laden with rich sweets from home. 
Thou dost much of bliss impart ; 

Thoughts of love that cannot die — 

Sabbath hours of ecstacy ! 

Hopes and loves of early days. 
In our hearts you linger still, 

Joys that time cannot erase : 

Though our eyes with tears do fill, 

As some lost one slow does pass. 

By sweet mem'ry's looking-glass. 
11 



118 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

And those hours of sweel pleasure 
In her heav'nly company ; 

When life seemed a bright treasure, 
Hid, and swallow'd up in thee ! 

But thou liv'd for Christ alone, 

And in heav'n are still mine own. 

Days of prayer, and holy fear, 
Conscience tender, motives pure ; 

Constancy, and truth sincere. 

Friendships which do still endure ; 

Time will wane, and hearts grow cold, 

Yet memory will not grow old. 



SONNET TO THE SUN. 

LuciFic orb, with majesty divine 

Thou speak'st the glory of thy maker God ; 
As 'mid celestial glories, far abroad 
On millions of immortals thou dost shine ! 
Supernal beam ! thy vast and boundless light 
Does banish melancholy far away ; 
Magnific grandeur ! whose lucidity 
Enthrones creation on the womb of night I 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 119 

Thou shone divinely on the primal morn, 
Reviving nature with thy cheering ray ; 
But in the " last, decisive, solemn day," 
Thy lucid beams shall be forever shorn ! — 

Jesus, the " Sun of righteousness," shall be 
The lamp of life, to all eternity ; 
And those who in this world refus'd his light, 
Shall wander hopeless on — in everlasting night ! 



HOME. 

How sweet is the spring, how gay and enchanting, 

As over the valleys we roam ; 
While beauty and fragrance, all sorrow supplanting, 
Chaste rapture does triumph alone ; 
And the girls they are smiling, 
Our spirits beguiling, 
To remind of dear pleasures at home. 

Oh the charms of the fair, they delight us, 

Though our bosoms be troubled and lone ! 
And their sweet pretty lips, they invite us, 
To the sweets, of the sweet honeycomb ! 
And they sing with such pleasure. 
It speaks of the treasure, 
We enjoy in the bower of home. 



120 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

But a stranger to permanent pleasure, 

Unpitied, unfriended, I roam ; 
Oh my heart the fond treasure, the treasure^ 
That awaits thy reception at home ! 
Joy and peace shall go with me, 
And love my passport be. 
To the blessing of blessings, sweet home. 



SONNET TO SLEEP. 

Come, welcome to this breast, refreshing sleeps 

And chase away my spirit's agony ; 

As discomposed and nervous here I lie, 
Wrapt in emotions, sombre, dark and deep. 
Come, and my senses in " oblivion sleep,'* 

And feast my spirit with Saturnian dreams. 

That life may be a moment what it seems. 
Though in the morn, I wake but for to weep. 
Emblem of *death — and prelude to the tomb — - 

How like the closing scene, these closing eyes ; 

Perchance no more to see the sun arise. 
But ere the morn have met my deathless doom ! 

Oh may I now lie down, at peace with God ; 

Cloth'd with the merit of a Savior's blood. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 121 



ON BEING DISAPPOINTED IN MARRIAGE. 

How sweet this music's echoes to my ear, 

As on thy banks, fond Trenton, I do rove ; 

While thoughts of and unrequited love, 

Does force from " feeling's fount the burning tear.' 

Alas, for joys most holy, and most dear. 
Connubial — consecrated — tender ties ! 
My spirit now does groan with agonies, 

That will increase, severer — and severe. 
Pensive and lonely ever I must roam. 

Nor fortitude to act a manly part. 

Till time with lenient hand, does heal this heart. 
That never more may feel the sweets of home. 

But though supremest grief my heart does thrill, 

'Tis resignation whispers — '' Peace, be still I " 



TO THE MEMORY OF MRS. CHARLOTTE WHITE CANSEL. 

AGED 23. 

" No pageant marks thy couch of lowly sleep, 
But living statues there are seen to weep 5 
Affliction's semblance bends not o'er thy tomb — 
^ Affliction's self deplores thy youthful doom." 

Thou spirit of grace and of love. 
Why hast thou oii7' Charlotte remov'd 

So early to regions above. 

Though on earth so endear'd and belov'd ? 
11* 



l!22 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

With the martyrs, and saints to rejoice, 

Though the summons our hearts has distressed ; 

But Oh, we'll not grieve that her voice, 
Now warbles the songs of the bless'd ! 

Thou hast met thy dear father ere this, 

Whom you lov'd with devotion supreme ; 
To thee what unspeakable bliss ! 

While the '* crucifi'd Lamb" is your theme. 
Thy heart was as warm as the sun, 

To cheer the sick, wretched, and poor ; 
How they wept when thy spirit was gone ! 

When no mortal thy ailment could cure. 

Single-minded, pure-hearted, sincere. 

Thou show'd what a Christian should be : 
Toward thy Savior, affection and fear — 

Thy opposers, forgiveness most free ; 
Toward thy sisters from virtue beguil'd, 

Prudence, elTort, importunate pray'r ; 
For thou wert simplicity's child — 

Of endless salvation the heir ! 

Thy dear scholars will never forget 

Their instructress, so meek, firm, and kind : 
Thy dear brethren and sisters regret, 

That you left not your equal behind : 
But they'll put on your armor so bright, 

And strive in God's name to o'ercome ; 
Nor faint, tire, or fail in the fight. 

Till they hear the blest plaudit — " Well done. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 123 

I knew thee when thoughtless and vain, 

As giddy, as folly could be ; 
But Oh, when I met thee again. 

How alter'd thy language to me ! 
Thy features with holiness glow'd — 

In converse, or singing, or prayer ; i 

Thy heart with affection o'erflow'd — 

And we all felt that Jesus was there. 

Thy love an unquenchable flame — 

No efforts thy spirit could tire — 
To be holy, and useful thy aim — 

Thy heart to do good was on fire — 
The timid and v.'avering did feel 

That faith, hope, and love lur'd on high ; 
While they quicken'd afresh at thy zeal. 

For thy ardor they could not but sigh. 

Still sorrow had enter'd thy breast, 

And through much tribulation 'twas given ; 
(Though thy motto was — " All's for the best,") 

To enter the portals of heaven ! 
A soul so ethereal as thine. 

How unfit for a temple of clay ! 
Those orbs that the brightest do shine. 

Their lustre does soon pass away. 

But eulogy we would not give. 

The glorifi'd elogy suhame ; 
In our hearts, thy example does live — 

High and low, young and old, lisp thy name ! 



124 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Thy memory will ever be green — 

Thy grave be a hallow 'd spot ! 
Those meetings for pray'r where thou'st been. 

And thy presence, will not be forget ! 

Then why should we mourn for thy loss ? 

Thy savor of grace does remain — 
Thy affections were nail'd to the cross, 

And death, though our loss, is thy gain. 
Oh thou saint, so devoted — deplor'd — 

How few upon earth live like thee .' 
Great Jehovah, my Savior and Lord, 

Grant her mantle may fall upon me. 



"MY OWN PEAR LOVE." 

Thou writest dearest unto me. 
As if thy love I had not prov'd ; 

As I had once forgotten thee. 
Or thou wert not by me belov'd. 

Remember thee ! yes dearest maid, 
While e'en mortality is mine ; 

My heart, my soul on thee is staid. 
And thou dear girl art only mine. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 125 

Remember thcc ! — can mother's e'er 
Forget the first-born of their womb ? 

Can kindred hearts be insincere ? 

Nor live, and love, beyond the tomb ? 

Remember thee ! yes when my mind 

In meditation, soars above ! 
Tjy hope, and happiness, sublim'd 

Hy innocence, and youthful love. 

Remember thee ! yes tenderly, 

When we shall meet to part no more ; 

When holy sensibility, 

Our pristine raptures shall restore. 

Think not though ocean rolls between 

Thy heav'n lighted home and me, 
This heart hath ever callous been, 

Or I have once forgetton thee ! 

Though duty call'd me far away, 

I left thee love, reluctantly ; 
Yet flowers will strew the pleasant way, 

That leads my footsteps unto thee ! 

And Oh, this semblance beauteous fair, 
Thy smile, thy winning smile, I see ! 

And as I gaze, I seem to share 
Thy parting look of love for me. 



1^6 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

How hard to leave the heart behind, 
When we to foreign clines do roam ? 

But Oh dear girl do be resign'd, 

I'll think of thee, and thy dear home. 

And will you shed the chasten'd tear 

Of sensibility, for me .'* 
Yes virtuous maid, forever near 

Thy heart, you'll often muse on me ! 

Oh day of bliss ! — ecstatic hour I 
When I in thy embrace shall be ! 

When love's supreme, absorbing pow'r. 
Shall own — I've not forgotten thee ! 

But hope shall be my beacon star. 
And love the wanderer steer to thee ! 

Yea, guide my spirit from afar 
To find a paradise in thee ! 



THE INDIAN CHIEFS LAMENT. 

Farewell to the land of the brave ! 

Hawaii forever must part ; 
My Sisto is dead, and my children have fled, 
And the cold barren earth I reluctantly tread. 

Responds to my quivering heart ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 127 

The eagle has taken his flight, 

To crimson his beak in the dove ; 
And the panthers do cry, as the fawns startle by, 
And my heart echoes wildly, is it I — is it I — 

That must leave the fond land which I love I 

But Sol in his glory's departed 

To crimson the crest of the sea ; 
And I take my sad flight, mid the darkness of night, 
Bid adieu to the scenes of my early delight, 

When none but Menteai * can see ! 

Our warriors brave spirits surround me. 

Though their ashes are trod by the foe ! 
And the death song of war, that was heard from afar. 
Is now changed for the flute or the lively guitar 
Whose contrast increases my woe. 

Farewell to the land of our braves ! 

I shall look on my birth-place no more ! 
But I must be gone, and forever unknown 
In the land of the pale face till death I must groan, 

With none to console, or deplore. 

* The great spirit. 



130 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Till the cold tomb thy wretched form receive ? 

For no green laurels shall bedeck thy tomb, 

But hemlock wave sad emblem of thy doom ! 

No vestal tears, bedew the unhonor'd spot, 

But like the vile, thy " memory shall rot ! " 

One glowing outline but supplies the whole — 

The immortal madness, of the immortal soul ; 

Proverbial for the deeds that stain'd thy name, 

By lechery damn'd to everlasting shame. 

Like the proud graceful ship that left the shore 

In majesty, strange regions to explore. 

Majestic glides before the driving wind, 

Though many leave their hearts, and hopes behind. 

But ere she reach'd her purpos'd destiny. 

She found another in the boundless sea ! 

Thus on the ocean of her passions tost. 

Reason the helm — Virtue the compass lost — 

Her treacherous bark on desert shores is driven, 

Beyond all mortal aid, the scorn of heaven ! 

Yea, on the wings of hope triumphant, she 

Reach'd the dark bourne of endless misery ; 

By lust o'ermastered her spirit fell, 

And rank'd its victim with the spoils of hell. 

Not so the sister of a holier faith. 

Who vice resisted even unto death ; 

Who when the siren open'd wide her arms, 

Resisted all her fascinating charms ; 

Who the straight path of thorny virtue trod, 

And overcome, and now is with her God. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 131 

Like the proud buttress of some lofty rock, 

Which hath withstood the tempest's mighty shock, 

Or lifting high its huge and mighty form, 

Does seem to laugh the raging waves to scorn, 

Or when the strife of waters has pass'd o'er. 

Is made more clean - , brighter than before ; 

So with the helmet of salvation on, 

She bid the surging tide of sin begone. 

The shield of faith, she would not, dare not yield ; 

While hope, and patience, do maintain the field. 

It was with thee " a holy war " — the strife 

Thou felt was only over with thy life. 

In every state of life how truly blest, 

Thou held that sorrows all were for the best. 

Dear sainted one, how few on earth like thee ! 

A " voice potential " — holy energy. 

No one could know thee for an hour, nor see 

That Jesus was the all in all to thee. 

The aged felt when thou with them did plead. 

It was no common saint did intercede ; 

And where thy charity made thee a guest, 

Thou wast by all aheav'nly one confest. 

For no one grace assum'd the mastery. 

But meekness, patience, and simplicity, 

With holy love, and faith, and zeal combine. 

To show that " hope's assurance " all was thine. 

Had thou liv'd here,* where piety is rare, 

Vicksburgh 



132^ MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

How many sermons would thy worth declare I 
Here have I known the useless rich, to be 
The subject of a lengthen'd eulogy ; 
And those a feeble star, to thee a sun 
Deem'd by their friends immortal glory won. 
Yet though no flowing pen thy memoirs write, 
The young, the sage, thy works of love recite ; 
The schools you gather'd though a sable race. 
And taught with all the majesty of grace ; 
Meetings for pray'r, where Afric's sons could kneel, 
And pray to Christ that he their hearts would heal : 
Thy burning words, thy looks of holy love. 
That could the old and harden'd sinner move ! 
Thou burn'd with an Apostle's holy fire — 
The missionary cause thy heart's desire ; 
But God, who sees as with unclouded eyes 
When all to us is full of mysteries, 
Cut short from this proud world thy lovely breath — 
This world whose "friendship seem'd as cold as death:" 
And left it for his spirit to record. 
How blest are those who die in Christ the Lord ! 
The savor of their grace does still remain, — 
Their works of love and faith, do follow them. 




MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 133 



AEFECTIOFS KISS -TO' 



How sweet rapt music to our ears, 
From virgin hearts of tenderness ! 

But sweeter far, what love endears. 
Affection's fond, and fervent kiss ! 

Congenial minds create delight — 
Congenial hearts awaken bliss — 

But who with coldness, can recite 
The raptures of affection's kiss ! 

Oh, for one glance of her I love. 
To give this troubled bosom peace ! 

But potent more my heart to move. 
Affection's undissembled kiss ! 

I'm frigid in this sunny south — 
Sick of the cold, and formal miss ; 

Oh give me beauty's eyes — the mouth 
That welcomes me with love's warm kiss 

Of " hope deferr'd " my heart does ache, 
I seek I sigh in vain for peace ; 

For Oh this heart will surely break, 
Unheal'd by love's uxorious kiss ! 

You shant have time for to upbraid 
When we do meet, the reason's this. 

If love should linger he's afraid, 

Nor trembling steals the honied kiss ! 

12* 



134 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Restless, impatient of eontrol, 
I sigh tov the niellithuous bhss 

Which thrills iiiv heart — tills my soul 
7\' wed u'itJi love's aviiiiiinii' A^k<s •' 



■, my love, I pledge to thee 



My heart, tor thou dost it possess ! 
Then in love's reciprocity. 

We'll seal atlection's buvniiiir kiss ! 



BEAUTEOUS ELLEN. 

She was the prettiest girl 

My eyes e'er dwelt upon, 
It seem'd in every auburn curl, 

A ray of beauty shone ; 
And when she " rais'd her voice," the swell 
Of utterance, none but love could tell. 

With wit, and sprightliness. 

And rapturous minstrelsy, 
To while the light wing'd hours, and bless 

Our hearts with ecstacy. 
How lovely was her form to view. 
With damask cheek, and eyes of blue ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 135 

But the sweet rose in bloom 

Does yield unto the storm, 
Which scatters far its sweet perfume, 

And leaves it all forlorn ; 
No more disclose its beauties rare. 
To scent the circumambient air : 

So Ellen fell beneath, 

The stroke of base desire ; 
Her beauty innocence and health, 

Yield to the lecherous fire : 
And those who lov'd her form to view, 
With sore distress her now eschew. 

Who first did deflorate 

Her vestal chastity. 
And sink her to this bestial state, 

She never told to me ; 
But justice one day will attest. 
When on God's left, he hears his best. 

The sum of pulchritude. 

Irradiated grace. 
With mental, moral charms endu'd, 

Pudicious in her ways ; 
How alter'd now, no tongue can tell ! 
She treads the vestibule of hell. 



136 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Her doting parent's hope, 
The fondest of her train ; 

Alas ! their tender hearts she broke, 
But healed not again. 

How sweet her youth, and infancy ! 

But how disgrac'd mulebriety ! 

Ye partners of her love 
In younger, happier days. 

Who now in paths of virtue move. 
Take heed unto your ways. 

And check the buddings of a thought, 

That is with concupiscence fraught. 

Her fate ye do lament. 

And sigh alas in vain ; 
For Ellen never may repent — 

Her passions ne'er restrain : 
Base pleasures bought at virtue's price 
Degrading, soul destroying vice ! 

Foul lust thy trophies are 
The loveliest of the land ; 

The hideous fiend does beauty mar. 
And tenderness command : 

Who climes of endless happiness. 

Forego, for lecher's base caress. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 137 

How was the mighty bow'd — 

How terrible the woe 
When Babylon the great, the proud, 

Did meet her overthrow ! — 
But angels wept ! when Ellen fell, 

From heaven's smiles, to live for hell. 

How oft in younger years 

A mother's lips she press'd, 
Whose chasten'd love, mid nature's tears 

Her youthful spirit bless 'd ; 
And she would cling around her neck, 
And sob, as if her heart would break! 

But years that wander by, 

Do change our destiny ; 
Her mother in the tomb does lie — 

She lives in infamy ! 
The one secure in blessedness — 
The other doom'd to wretchedness. 

When in some pensive hour 

She wanders sad and lone. 
Stern memory with relentive pow'r 

Brings back her happy home ; 
Those days of love and innocence. 
And all the joys she banish'd hence ; 



138 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Then eloquent of pain 

What does her face portray ? 

The hatefulness of habit's chain — 
Sin's wrathful majesty ! 

A glimpse of her own ruin caught — 

A struggle for to banish thought. 

Most poisoning, damning sin, 
Abaddon's blackest art, — 

The thought itself, ere she began 
Her course, had broke her heart ! 

But callous now, by habit steel'd ; 

No sense of shame is e'er reveal'd 

Physician of the soul, 

My spirit purify ; 
My rising thoughts, my heart control, 

And fit me for the sky ; 
Passions impure, and base erase. 
And grant me virtue in their place : 

Then shall my heart unmov'd, 
This message hear thee say, — 

*'By me unsought, unfear'd, unlov'd, 
Ye rebels far away. 

With devils doomed for to dwell, 
In the tartarean pit of hell." 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 139 



SONNET ON THE SABBATH. 

I LOVE within thy courts for to appear, 
With those who worship on the Sabbath day ; 
Who meet with contrite hearts, to praise, and pray. 

Thy holy word with reverence for to hear. 
Though bold blasphemers oft this day profane. 

And trample under foot thy righteous law, 

My willing feet thy sanctuary shall draw — 
And Oh my humble praise, thy gloriotis name ! 

'' Hope of the nation ! "* institute divine 
Of sacred rest, one hallow'd day in seven. 
To plume our wings more vigorous for heaven, 

In knowledge of thy law, in holiness to shine. 
Oh may some work divine those hours employ I 
To fill our hearts with holy, heav'nly joy. 



THE POET TO HIS FUTURE WIFE, 

" Thy murmur'd vows shall yet be mine ! 
This thrilling hand shall meet with thine^, 
And never — never part!" 

My heart is sad, and fancy faint, 
When thinking of futurity ; 

Alas, I pour the woful plaint. 
What happiness is not for me ! 

* Beecher's sermons on National Prosperity. 



140 MISCELLANEOUS POEMg. 

The past, unto my mind is known — 
But darkness veils the years to come. 

Ohj happy for the humble swain, 
Secluded in some shady grove ! 

Whose bosom knows no strife, or pain. 
But revels in the bliss of love ; 

Above the world's ignoble joys, 

His heart domestic bliss enjoys. 

For disappointment follows me, 

And youth's bright hours uncheered pass . 
I bow, alas, to fate's decree ! 

And seek in vain for happiness. 
But hope relumes the mystic bourne, 
And bids my sad heart cease to mourn : — 

'' That lovely one shall yet be thine. 
Whose image makes thy heart to thrill ! 

To soothe, to cherish, to refine, 

To guide to heaven, to keep from ill ; 

The stranger love, the blest unknown — 

Whose joys, whose sorrows, are my own ! " 

For in the visions of the night. 

In blest religion's holy hour, 
W^hen all that's joyful glows more bright. 

And fancy hath a heav'nly pow'r ; 
Then — then — that sainted form I see. 
Which God's own hand hath made for me ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 141 

Whose eyes, were with her soul away 

In deep sublimity, and bliss ! 
And noble spirit, owned the sway 

Of pure devoted tenderness ; 
A mild, expressive, pensive face, 
Where shone each mental, moral grace : 

A sacred, pure, and virtuous heart, 

Of deepest sensibility ; 
An angel's voice, when she impart 

The fervor of her love for me ! 
Confiding, modest, pray'rful, kind — 
To venial faults entirely blind. 

No glowing roses grac'd her cheek. 

But faded seem to lie ; 
Impressive, full of love, and meek, 

Fruits of serenity. 
No pouting lips that ask the kiss ! 
But lips that never spake amiss ! 

As spotless, as the gentle lamb, 

When first on nature's charms it gaz'd ! 

Instinctive virtue, as the calm 

When angel's eyes in heaven are rais'd ! 

Instant, in every act of love. 

Like angels in the realms above. 
13 



142 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

The pray'r of faith, the tear for me, 
As thou dost bend the knee alone. 

And blend my name, with purity 

Of heart, before God's holy throne : 

The warm blood of that heart of thine. 

Commingles, flows, and blends with mine ! 

Supreme in vestal modesty, 
Attested index of the heart ; 

That blush'd so deep, and oft for me. 
And vow'd that we should never part. 

The pride of life, whate'er befall — 
My guardian angel, and my all ! 

Oh day of bliss ! Oh welcom'd hour ! 

When will my eyes enraptur'd see 
The semblance, love with fancy's pow'r 

In youthful dreams disclos'd to me ? 
The image of my future wife — 
A help-mate through this weary life. 

Then sweetly down the vale of time 
In unison of hearts we'll glide. 

And when our vigorous frames decline, 
We'll sweetly sleep by other's side. 

United both in soul and heart. 

That death divided — could not part. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 143 



TO MAEY. 

I LOVE thee, dear girl, in thy movements and ways 
Familiar, and social, and cheerful, and free. 

And Oh, dearest maid, when thy deignest to praise, 
And say with delight that you love only me ! 

I love the sweet smile that plays on thy brow ! 

And anon the wild blushes, that crimson thy cheek ! 
And the calm of the even, that echoes the vow 

Which from thy sweet lips so softly does break ! 

And as we do walk in the silence of eve. 

To converse so charming, of nature and love ; 

The bliss you impart, the affection you breathe 
With the rapture of youth, and the strains of the dove. 

When overburden'd with care for pleasure I sigh. 
Thy look of affection my heart does relieve ; 

The press of thy hand, and the glance of thy eye, 
And love's holy kiss does forbid me to grieve. 

Confiding — devoted — ■ affectionate — pure — 
The fairest of earth, but reminds me of thee ! 

Of love the inspirer — the chast'ner — the cure — 
Thou hast slighted the wealthy, to fix upon me ! 



144 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Oh I love thee supremely, sincerely, and solely, 
For virtue, and genius, and beauty are thine ! 

Oh I love thee dear maid, for affection so holy. 
Commingling, and centering, and ending in mine ! 



TO MISS C. W. S. 

With a present of a " Basket of Flowers/' or youthful piety exemplified 
in the history of Mary, translated from the French by the late Rev. 
G. T. Bedell, of Philadelphia. 



Dear Charlotte, receive this sweet "basket of flowers," 
More precious than Flora in the height of her bloom ; 

It will help to enliven thy pensive, lone hours. 

And warm'd in thy breast, yield a sacred perfume. 

So whenever by pleasure you're tempted to stray 
To the hot-beds of sin, some sweet roses to find. 

You'll find that in plucking they wither away, 
And leave but the thorns of repentance behind. 

But like dear lovely Mary your motto will be, 
" I have nought in this valley of sorrow to fear 

If sin and its follies I bid from me flee. 
And ' Sharon's sweet Rose' my Redeemer is near." 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 145 

Then the flow'rets of virtue impregn in thy soul 

Shall survive o'er the winter, and chill of the tomb ; 

And while the blest ages eternally roll, 

In the Eden of heaven, will eternally bloom I 



TO MRS. MILES POLKES, OF YICKSBURGH. 

Resemblance of one lost to earth, I trace 

In thee much of her moral majesty ! 
From affectation free, and vanity : 

A lofty soul speaks in thy lovely face. 

For what is woman without heav'nly grace ? 
Whose charm of charms is sweet simplicity ; 
A heav'nly undress ; needful here, that she 

Assume erelong in heaven, an angel's place. 
The virtuous wife, the tender mother rare, 

Pattern of good, the young shall learn thy ways ; 
Thy tender counsel, and thy nightly pray'r 

Shall be remember'd, thou thy husband's praise : 
Society's tri'd pillar ; may you share 

Unnumber'd blessings, and a length of days. 
11* 



146 MISCELLANEONS POEMS. 



ON BEING RErROYED FOR STEALmG A KISS. 

Forgive me, maid, I've done amiss, 

I've ravish'd sweets of thine ; 
I've stolen one impassion'd kiss 

From lips almost divine. 

But far from me the consciousness 

That love could e'er transgress. 
Or that my youthful lips impress 

Were black, as traitor's kiss. 

Youth's fire, and energy, and bloom. 

My dearest girl are thine ; 
Still those sweet lips may kiss the tomb. 

Ere kiss'd again by mine ! 

Believe me dear, I never will 

While life remains with me. 
Though thy sweet mien my heart should thrill. 

Snatch one cold kiss from thee ! 




MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 147 



THE EXILE^S LAMENT- 

Oh sad is the strain of the love-stricken heart, 
When doom'd from its favorite forever to part ! 
And sad the poor maiden of parents bereft, 
A beautiful orphan in poverty left ! 
But more sad is my heart, from my country torn. 
In the mines of Potosi forever to mourn I 

Oh I once had a wife, and a cot of my own, 

A sweet lovely daughter, and beautiful son ; 

But my wife was deflower'd, and children were slain, 

And I with an heart almost broken with pain. 

From my friends and my country, alas I was torn ! 

Tn the mines of Potosi forever to mourn ! 

Ye gay lovely youth, so serene in delights. 

Most happy your days, and most peaceful your nights, 

Where the violet and rose do grace your soft tread. 

In the land of the free where your forefathers bled. 

Drop a tear of regret for a stranger forlorn. 

In the mines of Potosi forever to mourn ! 

Oh ye wild winds that topple my own native pines, 
Waft the tale of my sorrows to liberty's climes ! 
And ye wild winds of ocean, do murmur afar 
The death-song of heroes, and horrors of war ; 
And tell to the world of a stranger forlorn, 
In the mines of Potosi forever to mourn ! 



148 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

But my spirits are sinking, and pulse beating high, 
And blanch'd is this cheek, and sunken this eye. 
And the land of my fathers I never shall see, 
The home of the brave, and the isle of the free ! 
But death shall receive me into his dark bourne, 
No more in the mines of Potosi to mourn. 



I'VE FELT FOR THEE. 

Dear , the pangs I've felt for thee, 

The grief vi'hich fills this breast of mine, 

Will never once forgotten be ! 

For love must suffer more than crime. 

Those days of innocence and youth. 
The smile, the blush, the burning vow ! 

Those words of tenderness and truth, 
Alas, are gone, — are over now ! 

Gone, sunder'd ev'ry early tie ! 

And over each endearing scene ! 
We to each other now must die, 

And be, as we had never been. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 149 

To wear of hopeless love the chain, 

How exquisite the agony ! 
The fever of the heart and brain — 

The " madness of the memory ! " 

Thou wert my life, my joy, my light, 

My first, my last, my only love ; 
To cheer the darkness of my night — 

To lead my wandering thoughts above. 

The image of my mother dear, 

Her ev'ry feature in thee shone ; 
Her mind, her form, her dignity, 

Was centred, love, in thee alone. 

, I lov'd thee most sincere, — 



How strange that we were doom'd to part ! 
I'll love thee still, when on my bier 
I yield to death my bleeding heart. 

Alas ! 'tis done — - 'tis over now ! 

My agony what tongue can tell ! 
Our plighted faith this broken vow — 

Love's mystic tie, this wild farewell ! 



150 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 



MARIA. 



Alas, and that tongue, and that innocent breath, 
Is hush'd in the sorrow and silence of death ! 
That voice that once charm'd us with music and lore. 
The dearest Maria's, we ne'er shall hear more. 

The pigeon and stock-dove renew their soft tale, 
And eve echoes the plaint of the sweet nightingale ; 
But her lute and her harp are forever unstrung, 
Though she ravish'd our hearts as she carelessly sung. 

The flower of the valley in its beauty and pride 
Where it blush 'd unseen, though with none by its side. 
When nipp'd in the bud by the rude mountain wind, 
Does leave but a fleeting memorial behind ; 

But the sweet lovely rose that was matur'd with care, 
That bloom 'd in the arbor, or grac'd the parterre. 
Most beauteous, most fragrant, most pleasing of all, 
We miss and deplore its sad premature fall. 

The visits of beauty to man's low abode, 
Are restricted for reasons known only to God ; 
And the charms of an angel unto us were giv'n, 
To show us the glories transcendant of heav'n ! 

The bright orb of day as refulgent he shone. 
To cheer our sad hearts, ere his splendor has gone 
To illume other worlds with effulgence divine, 
So Maria has left us in glory to shine ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 151 

Farewell dearest maid ! and surrounding thy urn 
Affection, and virtue, and genius, will mourn ; 
And thy friends and companions will ever regret, 
That the sun of thy virtues so early was set. 



LINES WRITTEN IN AN ALBUM. 

Maiden ! to write the feelings of my heart, 
As a memento in this book of thine, 

'Twere vain, unless some secret power impart 
The holy inspiration of the " nine " — 

One kiss, one burning kiss, perhaps may start 
Emotions pure, impassion'd, and sublime ! 

Then give this holy pledge dear girl to me. 

And I will give my thoughts publicity. 



Favor'd of heav'n ! pudicious maid ! 
In beauty's loveliest garb array 'd ; 
Whose bosom glows with holy fire, 
As fancy paints the warm desire. 
And wakes within thy virtuous breast, 
Those dreams of pleasure unexprest, 
I breathe a simple strain to thee, 
In friendship's lasting memory. 



152 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Beloved one ! how soon we part, 

With joys the nearest to the heart ; 

And sensibility does mourn, 

The friends that death from us has torn ; 

And nature's versatility. 

But ill repays the devotee, 

Who sleeping in her shady bowers, 

To sensual pleasure gives his hours. 



Dear happy one ! I'll rest content, 
With nature's extern lineament ; 
Those varied charms, that emblem thee 
In grandeur, grace, and purity ! 
When revelling in the sweetest thought. 
Her varied imagery had brought 
A semblant angel to my view, 
I feign'd the glorious semblance you ! 

'^ The inspiring hopes of youth are thine ! 
Thy spirit soars in rapture's clime ! 
And fervent friendship dwells on thee 
With strength of consanguity ; 
And fancy wakes a thousand things, 
, Which peace and oblectations brings. 
Undying pleasures spring amain. 
With joy, and gladness, in their train. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 153 

And hope and pleasure, will be there, 

Then let them be of heav'nly growth ; 
While you earth's hopes, and pleasures share, 

Beloved, consecrate them both. 

Thou seem'st too lovely now for earth, 

Though all below the sky must fade : 
Youth is no time for sinful mirth. 

But to gain crowns that will not fade. 

Dear gifted one ! I dwell on thee, 

With youth's delirious ecstacy ! 

I will not — no, I must not name 

My love, or wish a mutual flame ; 

But give this tribute unto thee 

To wake anon thy memory 

Of one, who feels thy charms were giv'n, 

To lead our hearts and minds to heav'n I 



ON AN INFANT SLEEPING. 

Sleep thou lovely innocent, 

Sweetly on thy mother's breast ! 

Cherub to us mortals lent. 
In felicious sleep be blest ! 
14 



154 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

In my infant days, when sorrow 
Ne'er had rankled in my breast, 

Little thought I of the morrow, 
That had robb'd my soul of rest. 

Sleep thou little charmer sweetly, 
I will borrow peace from thee ; 

Chasten'd spirit, how repletely 
Nature speaks thy mind to me. 

Angels, guard thy lowly slumbers, 
In quiescence doubly mild ; 

Sing in indistinctive numbers, 
Thou will yet be virtue's child ! 

Pledge of beauty, and affection. 
Sweet and blushing as the rose ; 

Free from weakness, and defection ; 
May thy youth no vice disclose. 

Image of thy beauteous mother, 
May you emulate her charms ; 

May your opening years be sweeter, 
Than when sleeping in her arms. 

So the halcyon hours of gladness. 
Shall be temper'd by her love 5 

And the transient gloom of sadness, 
Her maternal care shall sooth. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 155 

Season, when immortal being 

To thee dearest babe was given ! 

Will the next eventful period, 

Be thy budding charms in heaven ? 

But if doomed to inherit 

Sorrow, in this vale of tears, 
May God's ever blessed spirit, 

Guide thee through receding years. 



TO , WITH A PRESENT OF THE RELIGIOUS SOUEVENIR. 

Charlotte, this humble gift receive, 
Memento from a youthful friend ; 

And you will dearest maiden give 
Attention, read it to the end. 

For knowledge shines on ev'ry page^ 
And wisdom for to mend the heart ! 

May both thy tender youth engage, 
And peace, and happiness impart. 

The tribute of an humble youth, — 

Warm friendship's gift to beauty given ; 

Oh ! may it like God's word of truth, 
Prove as a lamp to light to heaven. 



156 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

May joy and gladness follow thee ! 

Thy guide to heav'n, a hand divine ^ 
And Oh, what e'er my destiny ! 

May endless happiness be thine. 



FAREWELL. 

" Farewell ! if ever earnest pray'r 

For others weal, avail'd on high ; 
Mine will not all be lost in air, 

But waft thy name above the sky." 

Farewell ! Farewell ! — the boat is slowly moving, 
The ropes are loos'd which held her long secure ; 

The time has come when this heart must be proving, 
How she the pangs of parting can endure. 

The magnet from the steel is now receding, 
Not by con-natural, but compulsive laws ; 

My tender heart at ev'ry pore is bleeding. 
And thou my life, my love, thou art the cause ! 

Oh more than grief ! — my heart hath drank of sadness,- 
I little thought my life was " hid in thee ! " 

But now I feel this momentary madness, 
Enfeebles more, than years of agony ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 157 

Farewell I Farewell ! there must be a reaction ; 

In deepest grief ofl comes a gleam of joy ; 
And though I leave thee — Sun of my attraction ! 

The Star of hope, heav'n will not all destroy. 

Farewell ! Farewell ! — Oh am I not devoted 
Henceforth to suff 'ring, painful and extreme ? 

Thou angel one on whom this heart hath doted — 
Oh must it be ! — I'm wilder'd — 'tis a dream ! 

She swoons : — slowly recovering, she says : — 

What — and where am I ? — Oh my eyes do swim 

With tears ! — alas my bleeding heart, and burning 
brain ! 

Oh now I do remember ! — though 'tis a sin 
To love dear Edwin thus, or once complain. 

And this is love ! my head — my brain seems reeling ! — 
How poor is language feelings to portray ? 

This day — this hour, my destiny is sealing ! 
I scarce can live, borne from my love away. 

Upon thy faith, upon thy love relying, 

Thy dearest image thrills my ev'ry vein 1 

No patriot soldier for his country dying. 

Does feel more chilling anguish in his frame. 

A last Farewell ! though duty bids us sever, 
If we but meet in heaven it will be well ; 

But Oh ! if we are doom'd to part forever. 

This last adieu — will haunt thee e'en in hell ! 
14* 



158 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 



TO MARY. 

What Mary, all sadness, and sighs ! 

Do tell me the cause of your pain ; 
Wipe dearest those tears from your eyes, 

Why should youth, hope, and beauty complain ? 

For what my dear girl do you grieve ? 

What's banish 'd the rose from thy cheek ? 
Oh tell me dear friend ere I leave, 

What it is you have lost, or do seek ! 

Has sickness o'erpower'd thy frame ? 

The promise of youth hath it fled ? 
Has torturing anguish again, 

Perturbed thy bosom, and head ? 

And Oh ! shall I speak it to thee 

So wise, so discreet, as thou art ; 
Has youth, with most base perfidy 

Won, and slighted thy innocent heart ? 

Alas ! for our own fickle race, 

So selfish, so base, and unkind ; 
To spurn so much merit, and grace. 

To torture so gifted a mind. 

But banish all thoughts of false love. 
And cease dearest Mary to grieve ; 

Placing all your affections above, 
On God, who can never deceive. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 159 



TO A YOUNG WOMAN, 

WHO "WORE HER DRESS EXTREMELY LOW ON THE BREAST 

AND SHOULDERS. 

How beauteous is Maria's breast, 
When with the heat or care opprest. 

That monitor we see, 
Like the faint tickings of a watch. 
We seem its secret hum to catch, 

It beats so prettily. 

Expos'd to view ! so white, so fair. 
What lily can with it compare ? 

Moulded with perfect grace. 
A vestal's pure virginity ! 
A bust of spotless purity ! 

Outrivalling the face. 

Though cautious females they should lout, 
And prudish women loudly shout, 

— There goes a crazy maid ! 
Lay modesty and fear aside, 
Eschewing timid damsel's pride 

Of nudity afraid. 

The sweet Circassian female mien, 
By vulgar eyes is seldom seen, 

■\^eird from the public view, — 
But thou, more prudent, modest, wise, 
Present to our admiring eyes 
Thy face, and bosom too ! 



160 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

So Indian like, thyself divest 
Of the uncomfortable vest. 

The toilet do away ; 
And let the sages of mankind 
To moral beauty often blind, 

See nature's purest clay ! 

But if my counsel you despise. 
Fearful, that in this novel guise 

'Twere dangerous to be seen ; 
Then known 'tis shame to bare a part, 
That copes — or should, a vestal heart. 

Provoking thoughts unclean. 



WHAT GRIEVES MY SOUL. 

To see a man of noble birth 
Commingling with the base of earth, 
Without a virtuous thought, or shame 
Of scandals heap'd upon his name. 

To see the virtuous poor despis'd ; 
Defam'd by insolence and lies : 
Forgotten, cheerless, and alone, 
In penury, destin'd to groan. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 161 

To see a blushing, virtuous bride, 
Unto a wither'd man allied, 
Whom threescore years has nurtur'd in 
The ways of lechery and sin. 

To see a man of lofty mien, 
Of noble soul, and virile frame. 
United to a sickly form. 
Of some consumptive being born. 

To see upon a bed of death, 
A dying man resign his breath 
Without religion's blest control, — 
This grieves, with deepest grief my soul. 



ON BEING DISGUSTED WITH THE TOBACCO SPITTERS 

IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, VICKSBURGH. 

See, 'tis early, but I'm seated ! 

My thoughts do soar above the sky ; 
Hark ! what's that so oft repeated. 
Slavering so incessantly .'* 

Worse than any ocean spewer — 
'Tis a vile tobacco chewer ! 



56*2 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Hear the sacrilegious wretch ! 

Only view his spitting bump ! — 
If I but had a cane, I'd fetch 

Him on his spittoon such a thump, 
As would make the dirty bumpkin, 
Bring next time a scoop'd out pumpkin ! 

Listen ! a moment's silence reigns. 

The man of God is now at pray'r, — 
See ! see ! the wretch will burst his veins ! 
And think you strangled by a hair ? 
No, the abhorred serpent's juice 
Has leak'd into the left hand sluice ! 

His stufF'd toad cheeks, how they do swell. 

Thoughtful looking at a high belle ! 
Oh horror ! he is sure of hell. 

For he has slaver'd on the Bible ! — 
To me almost as bad as that, 
He's made a spit-box of my hat ! 

Mary, why your brow contracted 
With a most ungracious frown ? 
Why you look almost distracted, — 
Has the lightning burn'd your gown ? 
N03 some brute's demoniac acid. 
Has made my silken dress quite flaccid.* 



* A female in the Presbyterian church, in Memphis, ruined her dress 
when sitting in a pew where some slavering hog had been squirting his 
dye-stuff. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 163 

See them now together huddle ! — 

Mark the tempest how it thickens ! 
In one pew they've got a puddle, 
That would be a sin to Dickens ! 
I see a few, one quite a lark. 
Who seem " spitting at a mark ! " 

Some have got their heads together, 

A limb of Galen , one of law ; 
He is doubtless asking whether. 
He can spare his friend a chaiv. 

This practice of the full grown babies, 
Makes them hate to kiss the ladies ! 

Sailor's, Indian's, negro's pleasure, 

You do bring all to a level ; 

You may be to some a treasure, 

I do wish you at the devil I 

When I do wander here again, 
I'll hope to miss the spitter's pen. 



TO WINTER. 

Drear and gelid as thou art, 
Thou art welcome to this heart ; 
With thy snowy, iced vest. 
Cover earth's exposed breast : 



164 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Howling winds, and crackling trees, 
Oft the sombre mind can please ; 
While we circle round the fire, 
And the pulse of love beats higher. 
Music such as thine is sweet. 
Wild, sonorous, and replete 
With awakenings for to charm 
Our spirits, or our fears alarm. 
While our hearts are full of glee, 
Sleigh bells jingling merrily ! 
Or the oft frequented slide. 
Does a feast of joy provide ; — 
Chasing — pushing — pulling — slipping 
Trying all their skill at tripping ! 
Then the girls are up again, 
Smarter than the embryo men ; 
While they seize a ball of snow. 
On your shrinking neck to throw ; 
Like love's first kiss, it doth chill — 
Though the heart with warmth does fill ! 
Not that you are despairing. 
But her cheeks shall be sharing 
Niveous wash to make them glow, 
Carless who may be her beau ! 
Love is fond of wintry weather, 
Cold and courting come together ! 
Love don't often make you chilly. 
Though like cold it makes look silly ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 165 

When you are deeply smitten — 
Alias, when you get the " mitten ! " 
Then the happy new year's day, 
Welcome as the breath of May ; 
With dear woman's love content, 
Though love cannot ills prevent. 
Candent hearts, what a treasure ! 
Sacred music. Oh the pleasure ! 
Such a glowing zest of life ! 
Such a chance to get a wife ! 
I must wed on new year's eve, 
Then I will not often grieve 
That the years do hurry by. 
Sacred hours to memory. 
Keep me from a southern clime — 
Let me hear the sleigh bells chime — 
Rainy, sultry, full of gloom, 
Ennui is the stranger's doom. 
Weak'ning, sick'ning, comfort blighting, 
Feel unfit for aught but fighting ! 
Winter north is strength 'ning, bracing. 
Makes you ruddy, when you're facing 
A north-easter, good for misses 
Who love Boreas's icy kisses ! 
Reign without the scathful scene — 
Let me be the house within. 
Emblem of the heart's distress, 
Winter sight of wretchedness ; 
15 



166 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Thou thy wilting round must run 

As the season of the sun, — 

Thou must trespass o'er the green, 

Leaving naught that's virent seen, — 

Freezing up the pretty posies, 

Jessamines and fragrant roses ; 

Though the tu-lips hold their bloom. 

Snug, and warm, within the room. 

Love does nurture them, and cherish. 

Lest for moisture they should perish ! 

But sweet spring shall bloom again, 

Blushing beauty in her train ! 

To renew our sadden'd sight. 

And to cheer our visions bright. 

So when blighting age shall come 

Chill'd I lie in the cold tomb, 

May my spirit there obtain 

A place, where spring does ever reign. 






MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 167 



GENESEE PALLS. 

The Falls of Genesee, at Rochester, are a beautiful sight — to those at least 
who have not seen Niagara. The river some three hundred yards in 
width, when swollen in the spring, rushes with great swiftness over a 
battlement of rock, in the form of a half diamond, a fall of eighty odd 
feet. A mile or less below the falls, the water is forced through a 
space of less than fifty feet, and a fall of forty feet, into a cavern below 
from whence it takes its course to the lake. 

From whence this flowing river that we see, 

Rushing in haste to overleap the rock ! 

It wins our gaze, yet we scarce feel the shock, 
It glides so silent — falls so noiselessly ; — 
'Tis dark, and dull, and sullen Genesee ! 

Form'd by the mountain spring, the upland rill, 

Which like so many arteries do fill, 
To empty all their stores, great heart, in thee ! 

But see beyond, a narrow defile worn, — 
The giant stream a struggling to be free ! 

Like bosoms by contending passions torn — 
And where despair has gain'd the mastery. 

Thus mortals oft by passions onward borne — , 
Despairing, plunge into eternity ! 



168 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 



THE CHRISTIAN TO HIS SOUL. 

How light were being, were not Jesus mine ! 

The world to me a chaos would appear ; 
In vain, yon glorious sun for me would shine, 

Or spring's perennial beaut j crown the year. 

No scenes of grandeur could elate my heart. 
No buoyant songs dispel unmanly fears, — 

But in thick darkness I should ever stray, 
Nor heed the memory of other years. 

In vain for me fond beauty's blandishment, 
When hope has lost her anchor to the soul ; 

Farewell health, wealth, repose, and sweet content ! 
While tyrant time does drive me to the goal. 

How poor is friendship, and how light is fame, 
When heav'n to me is shrouded deep in gloom : 

Patience, how mean ! love abject, selfish, tame ! 
When we must bury all in the cold tomb. 

To live is sadness, and to die despair, 
While we against the law of love rebel : 

Oh ! who would sins o'erwhelming bear, 
A willing captive to the prince of hell. 

But I am thine. Redeemer, God, forever. 
Nor care, nor sorrow, can us disentwine ; 

To roam in quest of sensual pleasure, never, 
But trembling, fearing, loving, call thee mine. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. t69 



THE CONSUMPTIVE MOTHER. 

Summer. — Cottage door open. 

Henry and Mary — son and daughter, present. 

The mother's hand on her forehead. 

Mother. 
" I feel I'm better, — such a pleasant eve 
Is sweet as spring in holiday attire, 
When nature gives her offering to the Lord ; — 
Sweet smiling savor, type of paradise. 
The air how soft, — I wish it were full moon : 
I love to see her face, though pale as mine, 
And seem to see the hand that leads her on 
A guardian angel o'er a slumbering world, 
And think how tender hearts will drink her light. 
When my brief pilgrimage on earth is o'er ! " 

Rises — goes to the door of the cottage. 

'' It is not damp — come Mary, let us go 
Under the arbor ; Oh, I love to view 
The stars ! they tell of brighter ones in heav'n. 
And Venus, how she pours her mellow light ! 
Queen of the host ! to me the pride of all : 
But lustre gives, inferior to those orbs 
Whose light scarce reaches us, unnoticed here. 
Like queens that sat on earthly thrones, she shines 
15* 



170 MISCELLANEOUS FOEMS. 

Eclipsing to our view some humbler orbs. 
Which in the dynasty of heaven do blaze 
With a superior glory — - even now ! " 

Mary. 
*' Mother, is Venus larger than the star 
Which came to guide the wise men to the place 
Where Christ was born ? " 

Mother. 
*' My love, that may have been a meteor 
Created for the purpose, hung like a lamp 
Close to the stable where the infant lay." 

Mother. 
" Henry, take a seat close to dear mother — 
It is nor cool, nor warm, these arching vines 
Protect us from the falling of the dew. 
And leave us to reflection, and to God. 
Henry my love; before we do retire. 
We'll sing a hymn within this lovely bow'r, 
Making sweet melody in our hearts to God ; 
And dearest Mary, thou wilt join the strain. 
For ere yon moon that now begins to streak 
Her silvery light along the marge of heav'n, 
Renew again, her pure and vestal light, 
I'll join, perchance, the chorus of the skies ! — 
Mary, my love, my dearest second self, 
Affection^s pledge, my darling, and my joy. 
Remember me, when I'm in realms above ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 171 

And Oh ! if separate spirits have the pow'r 
Of guardian angels, to direct the steps 
Of those entabernacled here in clay, 
Whom ties of consanguinity unite ; 
I'll guide thy tender spirit from all harm, 
And lure to realms of purity and peace." 

Mary — clinging to her mother, and weeping, — 

*' Mother, you must not die — how can I live 
Without your presence, now dear Pa is gone ? 
To be an orphan — Oh ! I am so young." 

Mother. 
"Don't cry, my love, you're not too young to die, 
To serve the Savior here, then go to heav'n. 
And Oh the precious promises to youth ! 
That those who seek me young shall find me 
Their Redeemer, guide, and comforter through life." 

Mary. 

"Mother, I'd love to die when you do die. 
Be buried with you in the lonely grave, 
And—" 

Mother. 
" And leave dear brother for to pray alone, 
Nor go unto the house of God with thee." 

Mary kisses Henry, and weeps. 



172 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

MOTHER. 

*' Our times are in God's hands, he knowest best 
Our frame, and what his cause on earth demands ; 
And though he slay, yet should we trust in him 
With all the heart, and in deep sorrow say, 
* Not my will, Oh my God ! but thine, be done. ' " 

HENRY. 

" Mother, it is not hard to die — I stood 
By father's side, and wept when he expir'd : 
His dying eyes were lighted up with hope ; 
And all that vex'd his sainted spirit was, 
To leave dear mother, Mary, and myself. 
I was not frighten'd, when he breath'd so slow 
And spoke scarce to be heard, yet tremblingly — 
' Jesus receive my spirit 



f 5 3J 



MOTHER. 

Dear father, I shall soon be found with him 

Where he is now acclimated in bliss ! 

1 dread the pangs of dying, but not death. 

My heart is wean'd from earth, — I long to soar 

To that superior world, where Jesus dwells 

And my dear mother ; partaking of his love 

Whose is the glory ; in whom all fullness dwells ; 

My hope, my comfort, my eternal all." 

Mother hneeling, — let us pray here. 

*' Almighty God ! before thou broughtest forth 
The mountains, or thou didst create the world ; 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 173 

From everlasting ages thou art God — 

And there is none beside thee ! we would bow 

With contrite hearts obedient to thy will, 

To ask forgiveness for the sins we have this day 

Committed ; or the works we've left undone. 

Oh sanctify affliction ! may the ills 

Which do afflict us here, and are but light 

And transient, work out at last for us 

A greater weight of glory, than though we were 

Like Enoch now translated to the skies. 

And heavenly Father bless my only boy ! 

Like Hannah, Lord, I did present to thee 

With pray'r, in baptism, in his infant days. 

Oh may his life be precious in thy sight ! 

And like his sainted father, may he be 

A man of pray'r, familiar with thy word. 

And like thy servant Samuel, grant he may 

Administer holy things, with holy hands. 

When I have long been slumbering in the tomb. 

And my dear Mary, — grant dear Lord that she 

May choose the better part, may put on Christ, 

And live, and look, and act Christ in her heart. 

And now my Father wherefore should I plead ? 

Thou ask'st believing pray'r — I do believe ; 

And in the merits of the Savior trust — 

And patiently for thy salvation wait. 

Oh bless my Sarah ! may the words she heard 

From my dear husbands's lips, be treasur'd up 

In memory, and may she hencefoith be 



174 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

A burning light, an ornament of earth, 
That many shall arise to call her bless'd. 
Bless all the world, — and may the time soon come 
When war, and sin, and suffering shall cease ; 
And thy blest will by those on earth be done 
As 'tis by angels, and by saints in heav'n : 
And to the Father, Son, and Spirit, we 
Will give eternal praises evermore. 

Amen. 

Rising, sees Sarah the maid who has been listening. 

Sarah dear take my arm, I am so weak — 

And lead me to my couch, for I do feel 

I ne'er shall seat me in this place again. 

I groan to be deliver'd from all sin. 

I yearn to fly into my Savior's arms. 

Oh hope ! sweet hope ! the anchor of the soul, 

Thou dost survive above the body's wreck. 

And unhke earth's decaying joys 

Thou art immortal. 

mother. 

To Henry and Mary, who preceded her to the cottage, 

and have the Bible open on a table before them. 

Dears read my Psalm, * — I in my room can hear — 
And lift the heart in earnest pray'r to God, 
And he will bless you — yes, will bless you noiv. 

*Her favorite Psalm, LI. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 175 



TO ADAM BARNES, OE CHARLOTTSYILLE, VIRGINIA. 

Dear Barnes ! — when first I met thy gaze 
On Vicksburgh's dull and dusty shore, 

I lov'd the candor of thy face, — 
And shall if we do meet no more. 

Friendship, known only to the good, 

Prefers the structure of the soul ; 
Where nothing selfish does intrude — 

Where nothing mean usurps control. 

For friendship is of noble birth ; 

And you may search the world around 
Among the vain, the dregs of earth. 

And friendship cannot there be found. 

A mutual confidence, — a charm 

Of hearts that's incorruptible ; 
Habits which prejudice disarm — 

To gold, or fame, invulnerable. 

How many who are insincere .'' 

How few with the whole heart we trust ? 

Or sway'd by interest, or by fear. 

Whose looks, whose converse does disgust. 



176 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Some we spontaneously elect — 
Instinctively our hearts decide — 

Whom memory owns as the select, 
With them the joys of earth divide. 

Some have a friendship that's ideal, 
As wealth, or kindred grace's charms ; 

But we will practise what is real, 

And that thou knowest truly — Barnes. 

We've scann'd the character of men. 
From blinding prejudices free. 

And women too, and found in them 
Vexation much, and vanity. 

Like me the rosy cherub boy. 

Hath led your youthful heart astray ; 

And some one stole your " virgin coy," 
While you were napping by the way ! 

With me dear Barnes you may rejoice. 
From all the sweets of wedlock free, — 

For you are single now by choice. 
And I my model shall not see. 

But you are happier far than I, 

Though far from Charlotteville you roam ; 
No mother's love to welcome me — 

No place where I can feel at home. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 177 

Still I'm content, and I'll keep cool, 

I'll live, while I see others live ; 
And if I've been full long a fool, 

I'll try my fortune to retrieve. 

Insulted, slighted, vex'd, and griev'd, 

I care not if my cup runs o'er ; 
There's one who never hath deceiv'd — 

Whose heart is honest to the core ! 

Warm, cool, unfeeling, sensitive, — 

A contradiction sure I am ; 
So poor, I find it hard to live, 

Yet one of nature's gentlemen ! 

Unfit for any branch of trade, 

I've tried indeed full half a score, — 
A poet, though by nature made, 

Unskill'd in much of classic lore. 

But I will keep my spirit's up, — 

The world unto the bold is wide : 
Like Abraham, hope against all hope. 

And ev'ry mortal care outride. 

A man of observation, I 

Have been a critic to be sure ; 
Yet judgment mix'd with charity 

For hypocrites, who can endure .'' 
16 



178 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Unkindness — inhumanity — 
Thou knowest dearest Barnes I scorn ; 

For thou dear friend art kind as me, 
A master — and 'mongst servants born. 

And though I insults may receive, 
No mortal pow'r can fancy bind ; 

I'll live to laugh as in my sleeve. 

At the great swell-head — ycelp'd mankind ! 

On woman's charms we do agree, 
Though many south but move our mirth, — 

They're types of heav'nly purity. 
Sent to emparadise our earth . 

And now farewell ! for hopes beguile. 

And parted we may ever be ; 
Then may we live, so we may smile 

Together in eternity ! 




MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 179 



THE COaUET. 

I SAID, " he was a lovely youth 

So exquisitely neat, and clean, 
A heart of probity, and truth ; 

A noble, sweet, and manly mien." 
She said, somewhat with anger fir'd, 
" His person never was admir'd ! " 

I said, '' his lively company. 
The lads and happy lasses lov'd ; 

His wit, and wild vivacity. 

The gay, the social circle mov'd." 

'' That he more witty was than wise," 

The maid with pertinence replies ! 

I said, " he had a powerful voice, 
Of sweetest tone, and harmony ; 

With pow'r our spirits to rejoice, 
Or swell our hearts with ecstacy." 

She said, " she could not that descry, 

He always sings so very high ! " 

I said, " that he did say to me, 
She kindled in his heart a flame 

With all his heart's sincerity. 

And would not e'en the secrets name ! " 

She blush'd ! and said, " now is't the truth ? 

Sweet, pretty, v/itty, charming youth ! " 



180 MISCELLANEONS POEMS. 



LINES 

ON THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE DECISION OF THE BALTIMORE 
CONVENTION, NOMINATING HENRY CLAY FOR THE 
PRESIDENCY. 

'Tis done ! — should have been done before — 

Justice is sure, though it delay ; 
A million hearts, delight to pour 

Their paeans proud, for Henry Clay ! 

Though lowly born of humble birth. 
Thou soon will soar above a throne ! 

Like those whose mental, moral worth, 
Fair history's page delights to own. 

Defeated oft but never crush'd — ? 

Thy country ratifies thy fame ! 
For slander's tongue will then be hush'd. 

When thou the chair of state shall claim ! 

The Grecian mother sore distrest, 

Her worthiest son bears to the strife ; 

Thy country bears thee on her breast, 

Which bleeds — yet clings to thee for life. 

Agrarians — demagogues — may frown ! 

Thy spirit was not made to bow ! 
We'll place the chaplet of renown 

Fairer, and firmer, on thy brow ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 181 

To him with matchless pow'rs endu'd, 

Whose genius is a deathless ray ; 
We owe a debt of gratitude — 

A debt, the nation soon will pay. 

Thy deeds have been made manifest, 
Error's black cloud has pass'd away ; 

All hail ! — thou firmest — truest — best — 
Great patriot statesman, Henry Clay ! 

From east to west, the voice goes forth, 

Patriots who read attest thy claim ! 
From sunny south, to gelid north, 

Freemen who think, exalt thy name ! 

Merchants — mechanics — farmers — all 

The impulse of their hearts obey ; 
While ladies yield unto the call — 

Go hearty and hand for Henry Clay ! 

They'll weave the evergreen for thee 

Of deathless love, for actions done ; 
Thou champion firm of liberty ! 

Columbia's brightest — noblest son ! 

If an incumbent's death be thine, 

('Gainst which we all will humbly pray,) 

We'll fear no second Catiline ; 

But Frelinghuysen, trust with Clay ! 
16* 



182 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 



THE SAILOR'S HOME-NEW YORK. 



This building which is capable of containing five hundred boarders, 
was built by some pious merchants and others, as a means of reforming 
the character of seamen. The advantag-es of reading, and the order con- 
sequent on a tempeaance house, with Divine service in the establishment 
— and the cheapness and superiority of the accommodations 5 render it a 
great resort for sailors, and the means of much good. 



The good, the useful, the ennobled few ! 

Have thought of those who o'er the ocean roam ; 
And plac'd this beacon light unto their view, 

Where they can find when "ship's in port " — a Home. 

No land sharks here upon his purse to prey, 
No strumpets vile with infamous caress ; 

Or vicious comrades, for to lure away ; 

And in rum's hellish service. Jack impress. 

But stranded, as it were till serve the tide, 
Though long upon the billowy surges tost ; 

This haven of peace, where virtue doth preside. 
Shall bless the weary, and the tempest toss'd. 

Frank, manly, generous, open-hearted, brave ! 

Honest in purpose, fearless in the storm ; 
To risk their lives, their fellow man to save. 

Though their rough boat on mountain waves is borne. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 183 

How much we owe to thee thou gallant tars ! 

How glows thy hearts, as freedom's flag's unfurl'd ! 
Proud Neptune's boast, and which the sons of Mars 

Hath made the pride, and wonder, of the world ! 

And some who cross — " the blue, the open sea," 
Shall leave this Home with pleasant dreams behind ; 

Though they in foreign climes may shortly be. 
A wife's warm love, or mother's home to find. 

How little those who glide the stream of life 
In peace, do know the danger and dismay 

They meet, when bufFetting great ocean's strife ; 
Or on some barbarous shore are cast away. 

But here they learn submission to their lot, — 
To trust in him who can the waves divide ; 

Who ne'er the pious sailor hath forgot, 

Who on his bended knees for mercy cried ! 

Though the strain'd ship nor answers to the helm, 
The compass lost, the crew despairing start, 

The raging sea does threaten to o'erwhelm ; 
The sailor has the Bible for his chart : 

Which bids him hope, though flesh and heart, should fail, 
Or when they ship the most tremendous sea ! 

While faith is anchor'd deep within the vail, — 
A " light house " on a dark eternity ! 



184 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Life's voyage past, no more to tread the deck ; 

And o'er the merry laugh, the Oh. he ho ! 
Thy " hull " upon the shoals of time is wreck'd — 

Thy " hour " has come at last to " go below " — 

When the cold corse does meet the briny wave, 

Scarce heard the splash for ship-mates' stifled moan ; 

Then as the body meets an ocean grave, 

The soul shall find in heav'n — a " Sailor's Home." 



TO JOHN C. SHALES, YICKSBURGH. 

I'll think of thee while a few hours beguiling, 
In the queen city, pride of the far West ; 

To see the beautiful dear maidens smiling. 
And over ears in love be quite distress'd ! 

Or in the city like old ruins smoking, 

I 'mongst the graves for contemplation roam ; 

I'll think of thee, as thou art fond of joking. 
And feel rejoic'd that we were born at home ! * 



* In the Catholic buryin^-ground in Pittsburgh, on a large white marble 
square tomb, is the following inscription — " Jane Grant, wife of Felix 
Grant, formerly a native of Ireland ! " 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 186 

I'll think of thee when I to Fairmount wander. 
With some fond heart on a bright moonlight eve ; 

And as we on our youthful pleasures ponder, 
Will feel so happy — that we'll hate to leave ! 

I'll think of thee — when David Paul ^ is pleading 
Some patriot's cause, say Levins's defence ; 

With more than southern genius interceding. 
And all his former glowing eloquence. 

I'll think of thee — when in the park I'm straying. 
Our old resort when near election time ; 

While boys, and girls, and fountains fresh are playing, 
And one dear hand so tightly clasp'd in mine ! 

When bounding joyous on the gay excursion, 
I down the bay for health and pleasure go, 

While all is gladness — merriment — diversion — 
I'll think of thee— and the " Bay of Biscay O ! " 

I'll think of thee while some dear maid caressing, — 
For I can here, mere monied men outshine ; 

To see him look peculiarly distressing, 

As if to say — " My friend, that girl is mine ! " 

While o'er the briny waters I am skimming, 
I leave the struggling covies in the rear. 

And see no porpoise in the van a swimming, 
I'll know, thou water rat, thou art not here I 

* David Paul Brown, Esq. 



186 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

And in Hoboken's pleasant arbors walking, 
Some timid damsel, blusbing at my side ; 

Love's precious secrets, and sweet nonsense talking, 
As if 'twas honey-moon, and she my bride ! 

I'll think of thee — on Boston common, viewing 
The Yankee girls, the smartest of our land ! 

And while the tropic heat your flesh is stewing, 
List the sweet music of fam'd Boston's band ! 

I'll think of thee when on my bed reposing, 

Throug-h the clear air I watch the evening star ; 

And have no fears, when I my eyes are closing, 

Those curs'd mosquitoes will break through the bar ! 



RPFLECTIONS OF A COQUETTE-i- e. AN OLD MAID. 

My youth and beauty both are gone. 
And I alas ! am left alone ; 
With grief, and penury, and care, 
Those harbingers of dire despair. 

My early friends they scorn me now. 
Although I wore a haughty brow ! 
When first my spirit bow'd to fate, 
They left me lone and desolate. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 187 

No kindred heart to meet with mine, 
Although in sorrow I repine ; 
No hand to wipe my falling tears — 
No sympathy which love endears. 

How fancy paints my former years, 
In bright and startling characters ! 
Those scenes of bliss I've pass'd beyond ; 
And now must evermore despond. 

As in a bark, I seem'd to glide 
Life's stream, with others by my side, 
Some adverse wind from folly's coast, 
My bark on desert island tost. 

The mild, the meek, before me bow'd — 
The handsome, gifted, and the proud, 
Have claim'd my heart on bended knee, 
With all love's sensibility. 

And those the modest of my sex, 
Whom 'twas so much delight to vex. 
Have sons, and daughters for to bless, 
While I am left in loneliness ! 

The noble mien — the manly brow — 
Alas nor move my spirit now ! 
My wit, and wild vivacity, 
Is chang'd to spleen, and misery ! 



288 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

The sprightly dance ! the festal throng ! 
The rapturous, sweet, hortative song ! 
Have lost at last, their pow'r to start, 
The finer feelings of the heart ! 

I would not be a nun — not I, 
In gloomy cloister for to die ! 
I lov'd one heart, but now I see 
My heart was wed to vanity. 

Alas ! alas ! I feel full soon 
I'll sink into the silent tomb : 
And if the public grant a stone, 
Engrave this epitaph upon : — 

" Here lie the bones of an old maid — 
Nor liv'd on earth, but only staid I 
A life of wretchedness did see, 
The fruits of pride, and coquetry. 



A PARODY. 

Columbia's sons, whom rum hath bledj 
Columbia's sons, whom rum hath led. 
Come welcome to a drunkard's bed, 
Or temperance, peace, and victory ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 189 

Now's the day, and now's the hour ; 
See the front of battle low'r ; 
To escape the monster's pow'r 
Drunkeness ! and slavery ! 

Wha would be a traitor knave ? 
Wha would fill a drunkard's grave ? 
Wha so base as be rum's slave ? 
Tippler ! coward ! turn and flee ! 

Wha for liberty and law ? 
Abstinence 's the sword we draw, 
Like patriots stand, like patriots fa, 
Blest Columbia ! on wi me ! 

By oppressions, woes, and pains ! 
By our sons in drunkard's chains I 
We will drain our dearest veins. 
But they shall be — shall be free ! 

Lay the blighting demon low ! 
Alcohol, our nation's foe ! 
Temperance aims the deadly blow, 
Forward ! let us do, or die ! 



17 



190 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 



I lELLEN. 

Ji^LLEN, lovely, peerless Ellen, 

Sweeter than the blushing rose ! 
Care and sadness quick dispelling. 
Let rae on thy breast repose. 

Manly worth and beauty ever, 
Pay their fervent court to thee ; 

Tell me dearest, will you never 
Listen to my minstrelsy ? 

When in yonder bow'r I met thee 
Light hearted, cheeks all ruddiness ; 

Thought you, I could e'er forget thee. 
Or that stolen rapturous kiss ? 

Autocratic, step-dame nature 

In her versatility , 
Form'd a aweet angelic creature. 

Gave my heart to know 'twas thee ! 

Grac'd with majesty, and beauty, 

Virtue, and pudicity, 
Walking in the paths of duty, 

From all pride, and folly free. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 191 

Blushing grace and youth adore thee, 

Model of thy lovely kind ! 
Wealth and talent bow before thee. 

For the worth in thee they find ! 

Reciprocity sublimely 

Circles us in unison ! 
With what raptures, how divinely 

Kindred spirits blend in one ! 

Purest springs attest the fountain 
From whence all their virtues flow. 

Rills that wash the highest mountain 
*' Water oft the vales below : " 

Souls of noblest, holiest feeling, 

Speak their heavenly origin ; 
Voice, and thoughts, and deeds revealing. 

The divinity within ! 

For thou'st been with holy creatures 

Ere thy spirit came to earth 
Incarnadine — with those sweet features. 

Merely feigning mortal birth ! 

Guido, Magdalens has painted 

Bringing back the sainted dead, — 

Thou art of the living sainted 
Secret halo's round thy head ! 



19^ MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

In thy soul all grace combining, 

Heav'n has found, or earth has lost ! 

Graces mingling — virtues shining — 
*' Venus midst the starry host ! " 

Mortals laud thee ! angels love thee ! 

For thou soon vi^ith them shall be : 
Heav'n is in, though still above thee ! 

Angel in simplicity ! 

Yet thou lingerest with us mortal — 
Thou wilt be immortal soon ! 

Heav'n in mercy opes death's portal, 
Calls the loveliest to the tomb. 

There you'll range those fields Elysian, 
Circling round the great white throne ! 

Blest in beatific vision, 

Till thou " knowest, as thou art known ! 

Hard it will be for to sever. 
For the canker rose I see — 

But thou goest, where forever 
Thou 'It increase in brilliancy ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 193 



THE DESOLATE ONE. 

How feeble, how faint, and how weary, 
The disconsolate mother appears ! 
The cares of this life, its storms, and its strife, 
Have supplanted all peace from the dutiful wife, 
And " laugh 'd in disdain at her tears." 

The hope of her youth has departed — 
Her children, sweet babes, are all dead — 
No sweet rustic urn,' where affection may mourn, 
But her dear bosom friend from his country was torn. 
Where beauty and valor have bled. 

But the sorrow that preys at thy heart. 

The " patience of hope " shall o'ercome ; 
For weeping at night, scarce endures till the light. 
And faith with the holy will soon turn to sight. 
And leave all their ills in the tomb. 

But thy wrongs shall yet have redress ; 
The favorite of virtue shall shine, 
Exalted above, where beauty and love, 
Shall eternally dwell, forever to soothe 
That sentient torn bosom of thine. 
17* 



J94 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 



THE SUICIDE. 



This melancholy and miserable creature, who drowned herself by 
jumping from a window of the Scuylkill ^' Permanent Bridge/' a few weeks 
since, had attempted suicide before, and was restrained — her excuse being 
" she was so lonesome." And incredible as it may seem, there are many 
sensitive hearts, to whom life is a burden, for the want of an affectionate 
"husband, or kind friends, to share with them the pleasures of social inter- 
course. I was speaking to a matron on my return from the south, of my 
extreme melancholy in not meeting some friends, who had without my 
knowledge gone to Iowa to engage in farming, — she said, she knew two 
excellent and pious young women, who had confessed to her that their 
loneliness was insupportable. They could have the company of rakes and 
debauchees 5 but a virtuous young man never greeted them with a smile. 
But " truth is stranger than fiction."' I know young men, who are compel- 
led to associate with the vicious, or become the victims of melancholy 
fatal to their health. To a person of exquisite sensibility, compelled by 
poverty to herd with those from whom they shrink as from a viper, and una- 
ble to select their own society, life hath no charms. But those persons 
are rare ; the mass of mankind having enough of the hog in their compo- 
sition, to keep them from fretting. 

Thou poor disconsolate ! Oh who can know 

Thy sorrows ! or discern the scalding tears 

Thou shed'st in secret, though grief oft appears 
In forg'd smiles to counterfeit her woe ! 
And time with thee dragg'd on so dull and slow ; 

No gleam of joy — no hope of heav'n to cheer ! 

A heart unlov'd, how desolate and drear ! 
That could the petty joys of earth forego. 

Thy thoughts like vultures did thy heart consume, 
To melancholy, and to care a prey ; 

And though to sorrow death comes oft too soon, 
For thee, devoted one, he did delay. 

Thou sought despairingly a watery tomb. 
When none were near thy rashness for to stay. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 1-9^5 



ON THE DEATH OF WILLIAM HENRY KEELY. 



This young man who had been at Vicksburgh but a few weeks, died very 
suddenly of an inflamation of the bowels. He was engaged to be married 
to a young woman in Indianapolis, who had presented him with a Bible 
with some touching monitary lines written on the cover. Ardent in the 
pursuit of wealth, of vigorous constitution — of unsullied morals — his 
untimely death saddened a few warm hearts his frank and manly bearing 
had made here, and cast a gloom over his parents, brothers, and sisters, 
who reside in Oxford, Ohio, Having left him a few days before in good 
health, what was my surprise to learn he was buried. 

The following lines were suggested while sitting a few moments at his 
grave, February llth^ 1844. 



Keely — when last I saw thy form 
Glowing with health, and manly pride, 

Thy heart with vigor beating warm, 

And cheeks which show'd the crimson tide, 

That virile frame, that lofty brow ; 

How little thought I here to be, 
Upon thy clay qold tomb to bow, 

To weave a funeral dirge for thee ! 



How sad to me thy early death — 
How unexpected was thy doom — 

To yield so painfully thy breath — 
To find so far from home a tomb. 



196 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

To death's omnipotent decree, 

Alike or youth, or age must bow ; 

We bow unto God's soverignity. 

Nor impious ask — " what doest thou ? " 

And she to whom thy heart was giv'n, 

Oh ! will she wake from dreams of thee ? 

To hear that thou art gone to heav'n — 
To wail in frantic agony ! 

Her parting gift she'll not regret, 

Next to her heart, love's holiest boon, — 

Thine eyes that read, were oftentimes wet, 
While faith, her wings for heav'n did plume. 

Thy mother watch'd not by thy side — 
She whom you lov'd could not be there — 

From sisters, brothers, far you died 
Unsooth'd by voice of love, or pray'r. 

A few warm friends stood round thy bed. 
And shed for thee the manly tear ; 

And one stout heart, for thee has bled 
With anguish deep, and grief sincere. 

A few, will oft frequent thy grave 

With pensive hearts, and melting eye, 

I think of Christ who died to save — 
To mourn thy early destiny ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. l^"? 



A PARTING HYMN. 



The hour has come when we must part, 
Dear friends in Christ we will rejoice ; 

Let rapture fill each beating heart. 

And praises tune each trembling voice ; 

And though our parting gives us pain, 

Dear brethren we shall meet again. 

Our hopes, our fears, our pray'rs are one ; 

We worship but one God alone ; 
One in the merits of the Son — 

One in affection round the throne : 
And though dear brethren we must part, 
We undivided are in heart. 

Christians invoke the God of love. 
To send his choicest blessings down ; 

Let every heart his promise prove, 
And he will then our efforts crown ; 

And through eternity we'll trace. 

His glorious, and electing grace. 

Come sinners, bow at Jesus' feet, 

And taste his grace and pardon'ng love ; 

And if we here no more should meet, 
We'll meet at last in realms above : 

And there our ransom'd souls shall raise. 

In loftier songs, his deathless praise ! 



198 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Christians ! we here no more may meet, 
Where God his presence doth divine ; 

But we shall meet, by faith to greet 
Where everlasting glories shine ! 

United in that world of bliss, 

Where all is harmony and peace. 



"May our land be Immanuel's land," * 
Where righteousness ever shall reign ! 

And her sons be a glorious band. 
Our freedom and rights to maintain. 

No traitors we want on our soil — 

No priest-ridden ignorant race — 
The charter of truth to despoil, 

And virtue's bright landmarks efface. 

Who hold to a despot's control — 
Are govern'd by fear and the rod ; 

And yield up to bishops their soul, 
Insulting their conscience, and God. 

* Inscribed on a banner carried in the Native American procession in 
Phhiladelphia, July 4th, 1844. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 199 

We welcome the poor and oppress'd, 

The virtuous, the manly, and brave ; ' 

To the land where the weary find rest — 
While we scorn the base bigot, and slave. 

From the farthest green isle of the sea, 
From regions whence freedom is driven, 

Come worship where conscience is free. 
As the bounty and favor of heaven ! 

To the land where the puritans trod — 

Where the eagle, and dove, find their nest — 

Made sacred to freedom, and God ! 

The glorious bright world of the west ! 

A land where the righteous do rule. 
And the people are made to rejoice ; 

Where the children are taught at the school 
From the Bible, the book of our choice. 

Where the church in each hamlet does rise. 
Towering high the heav'n pointed spire ; 

Where no " prophet shall prophecy lies," 
His lips touch 'd with hallowed fire ! 

Where the Christian and patriot unite. 
Their thanks and their homage to pay. 

To the God who the tyrant will smite — 
Who can drive the intruder away. 



200 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

For the glory and honor belongs, 

To the " Prince, of the kings of the earth ! " 
We'll exalt thee forever in songs. 

For thy word, which gave freedom its birth ! 

And maidens as chaste as the snow, 

In concert shall echo the strain — 
Singing, *' heaven's commenced below. 

For Jesus, the Savior does reign ! " 

From the north to the far sunny south. 
The welkin with praises shall ring ; 

As from one man, one heart, and one mouth — 
" Messiah — Messiah — is King ! " 

And the stranger with others shall join. 

Their offerings to cast at thy feet ; 
While they shout forth — " the kingdom is thine ! " 

" Hallelujah ! — the triumph's complete ! " 

May our land, be Immanuel's land, 

No foe our blest union dissever ; 
Like a bulwark 'gainst tyrants to stand. 

Where Jehovah shall triumph forever ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 201 



THE DYING YOUTH, 

SITTING UP IN BED, AS HE LOOKS AT THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE 
FROM HIS ROOM, HE THUS REGRETS HIS EARLY DEATH : 

How sweet this day ! the balmy air instils 
New life, but cannot health to me restore, 

Or scenes which this sad heart with grief oft fills, 
Those pleasures gone, alas, forevermore ! 

Alas ! those days of innocence and love, 
When maiden's beauty ravished my heart ; 

You've lost your all-inspiring power to move. 
And I from thee forever must depart. 

Farewell the virent green where oft my feet. 

With an elastic buoyancy did tread ! 
Ye virgins^ whose embrace I lov'd to greet, 

How are our joys and oblectations fled ! 

Adieu, ye scenes of bliss ! my fading eyes 

Shall ne'er behold your glowing charms again ; 

Your blushing beauties never shall descry, 

Nor taste your sweets while life and light remain. 

Farewell, the glories of the morn and even ! 

Thou sun of grandeur, and of joy, farewell ! 
And you ye twinkling stars, that gem the heaven. 

And Luna fair, where lovers' thoughts oft dwells 
18 



202 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Farewell, the roar of waters ! heard afar, 

In evenings calm, charming my pensive heart ; 

Sweeter than lute, or harp, or gay guitar. 

The cascades murmuring, — from thee I part. 

How oft within the circle I have been. 

Where heartfelt raptures utter'd in the song. 

Did seem as sweet as angels murmuring ! 
As zephyrs swept the chasten'd strains along. 

Farewell ! farewell ! ray heart does heave the sigh. 
To feel your pleasures ne'er can thrill again : 

And in the lonely grave my form must lie. 
While youth and beauty wanton on the plain. 

And Oh, dear Mary ! must we bid adieu ? 

How deep my anguish, love, from thee to part ; 
We who have lov'd so ardently, so true, — 

Enough — enough — it bleeds my tender heart. 

I fondly thought my dearest would be mine 
In wedded ties ; — Alas, prospective bliss ! 

But to the care of Heaven I thee resign. 

While hope does soar to brighter worlds than this ! 

Farewell, yon mountain, creature of the flood ! 

A world destroy 'd, as 'twere to give thee birth ; 
How oft upon thy summit I have stood, . 

And felt an inspiration not of earth. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 203 

The shadows of the eve do intervene, 

My doom is written early for to die ; 
Death comes with fearful step to close the scene. 

And in the grave my mortal part must lie. 



TO . 

My heart, my memory, will it be 

When years have wing'd their flight away ; 
Some virtuous heart will think of me. 

Dear , o'er these pages stray ? 

Alas ! that e'er these humble lays , 
So much of beauty should enshrine, 

That posthumous, yet modest praise 

From lips I lov'd, should e'er be mine ; 

For this proud heart, that ne'er could prize 
The mean, the empty, and the vain ; 

This bleeding heart for sacrifice. 

That's thrill'd so oft with grief, and pain ; 

To be approv'd by thee 'twere well. 

Though tenderest ties on earth were riven — ■ 

The thought, that though we bade farewell. 
We'll meet to part no more in heaven ! 



204 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 






EXTEMPORE, 






ON THE OBSERVATION, THAT A MATRON PRESENT RETAINED HER 
FRESHNESS AND BEAUTY TO MIDDLE AGE. 

ViPcTUE * — which wakes the high desire, 
And triumphs glorious o'er the tomb ; 

Preserves thy pristine beauty's fire, 
In all its freshness and its bloom ! 



Whose fruits are temperance^ faith; hope, and charity. 






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